Leading UK battery wholesaler, Easystart Batteries, supplies batteries across a range of industries. Sales Manager Katie Brugha and Managing Director Cillian Brugha discussed Easystart’s attentive service and new home energy project. Report by Antonia Cole.
Established in 1996, Easystart Batteries is a privately-owned company aiming to revolutionise the solar industry. With its team of innovative experts, it has developed a new home energy solar project, featuring batteries which are fully recyclable, which is set to alter the course of the sector.
“Our team is at the root of our success,” said Sales Manager Katie Brugha. “Customer service is so important for any business and I’m really proud to work within a company that upholds such high standards. Innovation runs through the heart of Easystart, which has made our new home energy project possible.”
A family business, founded by Katie Brugha’s father, Trevor Horner. Initially, the company focused on selling automotive
and starter batteries. As Easystart grew, it diversified its product range to serve more markets, including standby power systems and cyclic batteries.
In 2001, the company suffered a fire that resulted in five years of progress being damaged. Due to the resilience of the Easystart team, the company saw this as an opportunity to rebuild, renew and improve facilities. Thus, it created the site that stands today.
Now, Easystart operates out of two warehouses based in Northamptonshire, selling approximately 110,000 batteries a year. The company generates an annual turnover of £5.4 million
and represents two brands: Haze and Monbat. With 11 employees, many of whom have been with the company since its inception, Easystart holds a wealth of knowledge and experience throughout every layer of operations.
Powering up practices
Through the company’s attentive service, it has built up many long-term relationships with customers. Easystart holds vast amounts of stock and has a team of expert representatives to serve clients efficiently and effectively. The company assigns representatives to each customer, so that the staff can build up relationships and better understand individual client needs.
As well as its reliable service, customers can be confident that Easystart is acting ethically and sus tainably in operations The company recycles all batteries through an approved recycling network, in addition to recycling all cardboard packaging materials. Switching from its previous waste management supplier,
Easystart made the conscious decision to use a company that separates general waste and recycling to lower environmental impacts.
Haze, one of Easystart’s battery brands, has also been taking steps towards improved sustainability and ethical measures. In 2016, Haze built a new factory utilising modern and efficient production techniques, as well as environmental protective measures. The company is actively trying to reduce energy consumption and waste production, in addition to consistently testing for potential environmental contaminations from working with lead.
The factory was built on the outskirts of a town in China, where the company is based. Many other companies operate with employees living on site, due to the distance of factories from towns. Haze decided to build its factory close to where employees live, so that they are able to easily commute in and return home every day. This supports the employees
and their wellbeing, making the supply chain more ethical.
Easystart pays close attention to quality and standards throughout every step of the supply chain, from sourcing to
delivery, Managing Director Cillian Brugha continued: “An example of this was when Dennis Eagle, a waste management company, contacted us to say its previous supplier had run out of stock. Dennis Eagle needed batteries urgently or could risk facing production delays.“That night I set off to personally deliver the batteries to the company for the following morning. Now, Dennis Eagle is a loyal customer of ours that we supply with stock every week. This shows how flexible
we are as a company and what our dedicationto reliable service can help us achieve.”
Circular solar
Another way in which Easystart is improving services for customers is by innovating industry developments, such as the home energy project. This involves a system that links solar panels and battery banks, in conjunction with a main grid supply.
The solar energy works to power the area in which it is installed, then excess energy is stored within batteries. This means that in situations where there is no sunlight, such as during the night, then the stored energy is used to power the site. Only as a third resource is the main grid used for energy.
“We’ve had the system in place for almost a year now and the results have been significant,” commented Katie Brugha. “A typical house that would use between six and ten kilowatts a day is now using one kilowatt a day from the main grid. This is a huge reduction, so the benefits of the system are quite notable.”
The idea for the project came from Easystart’s desire to install solar panels at its own site. Whilst researching, the company found that lithium was the commonly used option, which is expensive and cannot be recycled.
Easystart’s system uses lead acid batteries, which are up to 99% recyclable. To recycle, the battery is first collected,
and the acid is drained before the lead and plastic are then separated in water. The reclaimed lead is smelted, refined and then reused for new batteries. Plastics are reused for battery cases and lastly, the acid is purified for new energy storage or, alternatively, can be transformed into glass.
“This system creates a more circular economy because the batteries themselves are made from recycled materials and are then recycled again at end of life,” Cillian Brugha explained. “At the same time, they’re supporting the transition to renewable energy by providing a more affordable option.
“Using lead acid batteries is about a third of the price of lithium batteries, making them much more accessible. We are creating a scalable option so that everyone has the ability to implement r enewable energy into their homes or businesses. Through this, we hope to support the decarbonisation of the planet.”
Implementing innovation
Within the coming months, Easystart plans to release the project to the market and begin implementing the system in both home and commercial properties. As an expansion to this, the company hopes to revolutionise the solar industry as a whole and educate people on the benefits of lead acid batteries, as opposed to lithium.
This will be made possible through collaboration with Easystart’s partners. The company has built long-standing relationships with partners and suppliers, allowing it to be confident in the products it is supplying and deliver reliable service.
Easystart preorders stock to ensure it always has the capability to meet customer requirements. This system will contribute to the success of the home energy project and the company as a whole.
“I’m really excited for the future of Easystart,” added Katie Brugha, in conclusion. “It’s important to me to continue my father’s legacy and I’m very passionate about making this company the best that it can be. What we’re working on in terms of renewable energy is something I’m really proud of. I look forward to seeing how Easystart can contribute to the renewable energy market and make it more accessible.” n
