17ELBC Showguide — Issue 2 by hamptonhalls

September 22-24, 2020

17ELBC, Virtual

R U O TH AT O S BO U E E IN SE NL O

Come talk to us about our ongoing pasting line innovations

The ELBC story

Humble start to the must-attend forum for the battery industry

Behind the scenes

The virtual conference revealed for delegates and exhibitors

Full conference details

From abstracts to the networking weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got you covered!

Explosive pull-outs

Highlights of some of the most engaging presentations of 2020

Bringing the industry together

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Bringing the industry together Issue 116

Summer 2020

Issue 115

Inside Microporous A separator firm looking for bigger, better business

V TIE NA Hammond master class O IG NIC Improving charge acceptance M, ICA with novel expanders AR IS EK Z O Bringing the industry together ST ELL www.batteriesinternational.com EW AR $50/e40 DF SA

The Commissioner speaks What one senior EC figure really thinks about lead

Summer 2019

Systems Sunlight set to take new world by storm Nickel-iron pairing returns to fore, one century later

Hammond and why TTBLS boosts formation efficiency AL TU

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Dong Li and the future of battery giant Leoch

Flow batteries: the fight to gain market share

Lead and the grid: good news for electric cars

Forgotten battery heroes: Ireland’s Nicholas Callan

Bringing the industry together

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Issue 113

Issue 109

Spring 2019

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Autumn 2019

Separator superstars R&D lead the way ahead in race to hit the jackpot

New perspectives on an industry on the brink of transformation

Advanced welding skills: new approaches to seals ER

Winter 2019/20

2020 vision: the year ahead

Why the lead battery industry will ride the Covid-19 tempest

Why EFBs offer huge market opportunities

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Issue 114

Life after lockdown

The stop-start solution UltraBattery blues East Penn to wind down Ecoult subsidiary

Spring 2020

ELL TTEW NA STI AU ELL, BG BO

Frank Fleming winner of International Lead Award

Full breakdown of ABC talks and presentations

One Minute Giveback: the results, some $40,000 later

Meet Rainer Wagner — VRLA design all-rounder

Bringing the industry together

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Autumn 2018

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Summer 2018

The game changer!

Separator power

IndIa: the next battery superpower in the making

The new kingmakers of Asia's battery boom Four US states to watch: renewables in ESS love match Let's engage the brain in talk about lithium recycling

Decarbonization: the myths, opportunities (and bunkum) Amer-Sil’s Guy Dauwe: a sad, sudden demise

Bringing the industry together

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Last impressions: Thorsby reflects on his time at the Battery Council

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The next revolution

A new generation of female leadership gets set to emerge

Farewell Ken Peters, unsung hero of VRLA possibilities

ELBC proves conference talk of the year — an insider's view

Borish Monahov retires, steps down as ALABC head

Are lead-lithium hybrids even worth discussing?

Bringing the industry try together

$50/e40

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First impressions, Moran talks over the challenges as BCI's new EVP Lead acid to break new ground TH in East African microgrids OM FR

Bringing the industry try together

Meet Akira Yoshino, co-inventor and father of the lithium ion cell

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Spring 2018

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2019 BCI innovation awards: the rundown, the winner and also-rans

Bringing the industry together

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East Penn's Dan Langdon retires, Chris Pruitt takes over as CEO A life in energy storage: Shep Wolsky dies aged 91

The promise of the year ahead: what 2018 means for us all Thorsby steps down as EVP for Battery Council International LD OR

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Bringing the industry try together

Spring 2017

Cybersecurity 2017: the latest in hacking

Software to tie intelligence with distributed energy

Enabling fast formation of lithium ion batteries

Bringing the industry try together

Issue 104

Developing world telecoms to embrace energy storage

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Virtual power plants: the new nexus of renewables, grids, energy storage

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Summer 2017

The new pecking order

The sudden rise of the bipolar battery

The BCI innovation award

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Meet Brian Wilson: Troubleshooter extraordinaire for the lead industry

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Turning that light bulb moment into a reality

The mysterious world of energy storage pricing

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Issue 103

Masters of illusion

New chemistries, approaches challenge ascendancy of lithium Annual innovation awards: an in-depth look at the contenders

ALABC, Argonne to explore uncharted R&D waters

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One direction, two chemistries: China's confusion of solutions

When supply and demand collide, the coming cobalt supply crisis

Carbon and the negative plate: exclusive book extract tells all

ED Doug Brennion, the forgotten TH bipolar technology genius OM FR

Bringing the industry try together

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September 22-24, 2020

17ELBC, Virtual

Introducing v-ELBC

The joys of going virtual at the unmissable event of the year The ELBC story

Humble start to the must-attend forum for the battery industry

Behind the scenes

The virtual conference revealed for delegates and exhibitors

Full conference details

From abstracts to the networking weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got you covered!

Explosive pull-outs

Highlights of some of the most engaging presentations of 2020

Bringing the industry together

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17ELBC: EDITORIAL Mike Halls • editor@batteriesinternational.com

The new normal may not be half as bad as anticipated Conferences will never be the same again. That’s pretty much the conclusion we’re all reaching. The sudden move in the battery business — indeed in all industries — from in-person meetings and trade shows to virtual conferences, workshops, webinars and even exhibitions is changing the entire meetings landscape. Possibly forever … and maybe that’s not as bad as we first thought. But for certain we’re in a new and uncharted territory. It’s also clear that even when things return to normal, industry conferences and trade shows cannot be the same. The new virtual format offers a new glimpse of a better way to communicate industry information — though we have yet to see how the equally important face-to-face contacts that accelerate business will work. Those trade shows and conferences that can’t make the leap to an on-line format will struggle to survive. For the next year at least, those massive exhibitions that attracted 40,000 attendees and 500 exhibitors are over. For an organization such as the ILA — a not-for profit — which has run the ELBC since setting it up in 1988, the conference and exhibition have been a vital part of its funding. Although the organizers believe it part of their remit to act as the disseminator of the best technical papers and help facilitate industry dissemination, the meeting is also financially important for the ILA. The conference

it runs every other year provides funding for its main remit of defending and promoting the lead battery and lead industry. This is possibly even more needed given the rising clamour for alternative battery storage. A US battery figure told us recently: “The Covid crisis has come at the worst time possible for us as an industry — our largest manufacturers are hit the hardest while many of the lithium ones have the funding to push forward with their gigafactories and the like since their profitability is not as yet predicated by immediate volumes of sales.” Perhaps the most important lesson from the present is that there are three things that attendees look for in a program: content, business marketing opportunities and networking. How well an on-line conference and exhibition can deliver these benefits to attendees will be the measure of the quality of its virtual platform and will determine its overall success. The ILA has already learnt many of the lessons from other virtual conferences where their success was challenged, for example, by beefing up the volumes of content to the detriment of the attendee. So the ILA has adapted its live program to a maximum of three hours per day — no fears of so-called ‘Zoom fatigue’ here — and by letting delegates see the presentations well in advance, enable a considered program of questions when the live discussions start. The two other important features of in-person conferences and trade shows — business marketing opportunities and networking—will together prove far too challenging for virtual anything to duplicate. Attempts at networking — in a special place on the virtual ELBC platform where delegates can see other delegates within a ‘room’ — may provide something bordering on the satisfactory. But however nothing can still meet the relaxed wander around a crowded reception with a chilled glass of white wine in hand … We’ve come a long way very quickly, we may have a lot further to run in the virtual world of conferences. For the moment, let’s hope for everyone’s sake — not least the health of us all — that our need to do so will be only short-term. Mike Halls, Editor

2 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

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17ELBC: CONTENTS 17ELBC: THE VIRTUAL ONE — WHAT FATE FOR LEAD BATTERIES IN A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD? The 17th European Lead Battery Conference — the first to be held as a virtual conference — could well be the most influential lead event this side of the new millennium, even surpassing the spectacular meetings in Paris eight years ago. This is the final iteration of a supplement that was distributed electronically on August 11, updated and released at the end of the month and now will be printed and distributed — yes by snail mail!— to every delegate registered in early September. EDITORIAL

Are virtual conferences about to become the new industry standard? Surely it’s time to take the good points and bad points of the present coronavirus situation to work out the way ahead? A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE

Mark Wallace, new chief executive at Clarios, shares his present hopes and market thinking. VIEW FROM THE CHAIR

Andy Bush, head of ELBC organizer ILA, talks about the necessities of making this year’s ELBC a virtual one. But not forgetting the technical content of other presentations! WELCOME TO THE CONFERENCE!

A brief user’s guide to making your way round the exhibition, forums, zoom sessions and more — a must- read intro that includes the timetable for the live sessions. A BRIEF HISTORY OF LEAD BATTERIES — 1990-2020

Mark Wallace, new Clarios CEO, will deliver the keynote 7, 24

The life of the industry, some of the big deals and advances made over the past 30 years. THE PLENARY SESSIONS — INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

After the live keynote speech by Clarios CEO Mark Wallace, this year’s plenary sessions look at the health of the lead battery industry in terms of products, applications, market volumes, materials and related recycling and geography within the context of a world that is in many parts still either gripped by the Covid pandemic or reeling in its aftermath. AN EVEN BRIEFER HISTORY OF TIME: THE ELBC STORY

A brief history of Europe’s most important lead conference 31

It was 32 years ago today … and the LDA taught the industry to play! Why did ELBC emerge out of nowhere to become — with the Asian Battery Conference — the key event every two years to attend? What makes it so special? Can it run with the times and still remain the leading lead forum in the 2020s and beyond? IN-DEPTH LISTINGS OF SELECTED ABSTRACTS

12, 40-62

Six big themes! • Automotive Battery Advancements • Carbon Additives for Automotive Applications • Fundamental Science I • Lead Batteries in Energy Storage Applications • Fundamental Science II • Enhancements in Industrial Applications. THE LAST WORD

Tales from the darker side of conference life — of hi-jinks and much, much worse.

The Last Word: the darker side to virtual conference life 63

Publisher Karen Hampton karen@batteriesinternational.com, +44 7792 852 337

Finance administrator Juanita Anderson juanita@batteriesinternational.com +44 1 243 782 275

Production/design Antony Parselle, aparselledesign@me.com +44 1604 632 663

Editor Michael Halls editor@batteriesinternational.com, +44 7977 016 918

Reception Tel: +44 1 243 782 275 Fax: +44 1787 329 730

International advertising representation advertising@batteriesinternational.com

Advertising director Jade Beevor jade@batteriesinternational.com +44 1243 792 467

Subscriptions, admin manager Claire Ronnie subscriptions@batteriesinternational.com admin@batteriesinternational.com +44 1 243 782 275

Deputy editor Debbie Mason debbie@batteriesinternational.com

Researcher, journalist Hillary Christie hillary@batteriesinternational.com

The contents of this publication are protected by copyright. No unauthorized translation or reproduction is permitted. ISSN 1462-6322 (c) 2020 Mustard Seed Publishing, UK company no: 5976361. Printed in the UK via ThisismethodUK

Disclaimer: Although we believe in the accuracy and completeness of the information contained in this magazine, Mustard Seed Publishing Limited makes no warranties or representation about this. Nor should anything contained within it should be construed as constituting an offer to buy or sell securities, or constitute advice in relation to the buying or selling of investments.

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Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020 • 3

SMARTER SOLUTIONS FOR A BETTER TOMORROW

At Clarios, we focus on the profound impact we can have on our planet and the people who call it home. We design, build, recover and reuse batteries to create more efficient and sustainable energy storage solutions today, into tomorrow. Learn more at clarios.com/global-responsibility.

Powering today, into tomorrow. clarios.com

17ELBC: A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE Mark Wallace, incoming CEO of Clarios, wrote an exclusive message for 17ELBC and Batteries International about how the battery business will continue to play an important role in the world’s future — and even how we could leave the world a better place than we found it.

Challenging times show us what really matters I am looking forward to this year’s 17th annual European Lead Battery Conference where I’ve been invited to speak and provide my thoughts on our industry’s future. Despite the near-term challenges we all face, I believe our industry has a bright future ahead, and I am excited to give you a preview of my thoughts. But, first, let me introduce myself and explain a little more about why I’m so excited. I joined Clarios as CEO in May during the heart of COVID-19 and its impact on our business. To say it was an interesting time to join an organization would be an understatement. But, the long-term healthy growth of this sector, the promise of a growing car parc and an admirable record of environmental leadership made me very optimistic about Clarios and the future. Through this pandemic, it struck me just how critical our work is. Without batteries, first responders can’t function; food and medical supplies can’t reach their destination; essential employees can’t get to their jobs. My job as a CEO is to envisage a future — a world adapted to COVID and beyond. Our industry is poised for growth with exponential global population growth and an expanding middle class leading to the need for an estimated 200 million more batteries by 2035. Yes, the near-term impact of the pandemic on vehicle volumes has been profound. But one thing is clear: lead-acid batteries will remain essential across all new vehicle platforms. Our industry has market strength from cost to safety, recyclability, and proven reliability. This is a time to be progressive. The future of our industry is in our hands… it’s time for us all to act. We recently launched our Clarios Sustainability Blueprint, a roadmap

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“Yes, the near-term impact of the pandemic on vehicle volumes has been profound. But one thing is clear: lead-acid batteries will remain essential across all new vehicle platforms” for our future to chart our course to create the world’s smartest energy storage solutions that benefit people, business and the planet. Not only is it how we build a better, safer and stronger company — it is how we will leave the world better than we found it. Through the blueprint’s five pillars: value, operational excellence, life-cycle stewardship, transparency and advocacy, we will unlock our unparalleled capabilities in battery innovation, design, materials sourcing, manufacturing, distribution, circular economy and recycling. Challenging times show us what really matters. In the post-COVID era we will go forward wiser and more in

tune with the world we serve. This is our chance to reset the bar, creating new and higher standards for ourselves by addressing the global issue of informal, illegal and substandard recycling of lead-acid batteries. It’s the duty of our industry, and anyone who wants to participate in the energy storage sector to manage the entire lifecycle of our products. But we can’t do this alone — I’m challenging you to join us. I am asking you to think about the world we are operating in, and what real value means in the 21st century. The life of our product isn’t over when its function is done. Managing the battery lifecycle responsibly isn’t a luxury, it is an absolute necessity.

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17ELBC: VIEW FROM THE CHAIR Batteries International interviewed Andy Bush head of the International Lead Association and organizer of the European Lead Battery Conference.

ELBC: a busy agenda with much to discuss How the world has changed! If anyone had asked last year what most delegates would doing at the next ELBC they’d have never said sitting at home peering into a screen to find out what the rest of the battery industry was thinking or doing. Without being too melodramatic, a shadow has crossed the face of the planet and the battery industry — like all other business sectors — is having to come to terms with it. “This year, more than most, we have had a lot to digest,” says Andy Bush, head of the International Lead Asso-

ciation and organizer of the ELBC. “There’s no getting away from it. The pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we live and work, and the implications for lead batteries — both short and longer term — will be a major topic of debate. “In fact this year’s ELBC will be the first time the entire global value chain, from manufacturers and suppliers to researchers and policy makers, will be able to review the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and consider the implications for the industry in the future.

This ELBC will be the first time the entire global value chain from manufacturers and suppliers, to researchers and policymakers will be able to review the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and consider the implications for the industry going forward.

The long march to innovation Q: Two years ago you called on the industry to redouble its commitment to innovation and put the lead battery industry at the heart of new product development and new research. So what’s been achieved? A: In that time we have seen the Consortium for Battery Innovation formed and a new technical roadmap and impressive research programme developed. The potential of technologies including bipolar have signalled a step-change in performance and our new technical program has identified a range of areas for significantly increasing the performance of lead batteries for all applications.

Q: Could you give us examples? A: work has shown that DCA has be significantly improved through optimizing the use of carbon with other additives, that the cycle life of lead batteries for energy storage applications can be markedly increased through improved charging algorithms and also by identifying the mechanistic processes contributing to premature failure. New techniques have also been utilized that haven’t previously been used on our technology such as X-ray and neutron diffraction, which are being used to shed light on to the fundamental mechanisms occurring in the lead battery-vital for taking lead battery performance to the next level.”

8 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

“Even aside from the economic impact of the Covid-19 outbreak there was plenty to debate regarding the changing nature of the lead battery market. In the two years since we last met in Vienna, battery energy storage capacity has rocketed and the perceived wisdom is that the global pandemic will do little to change this pace in the years to come. However, so far lead batteries continue to play a relatively small role. “As a product lead batteries are ideally suited to many energy storage applications. So why is it so difficult to crack this market? How likely is this to change? These are pressing issues for us all to discuss.” Equally pressing are the long-standing campaigning being made by the ILA on the legislative front in Europe over a wide range of regulations that would circumscribe (and eventually kill) lead battery manufacturing on the continent. Perhaps one of the shocks of recent months was a speech made in May by the European Commission’s number two in command, vice president Frans Timmermans. Timmermans, a well respected former MEP and once tipped as the next head of the European Commission, said on the record that “we shouldn’t be throwing money at technologies [lead batteries] that have reached a maturity” … “has a huge negative impact on the environment” [lead] … “doesn’t seem to have a lot of potential for further development” among other things including a mistaken belief that rare earth metals need to be removed from batteries [they aren’t in them]. “Timmermans told us just what he thought about lead batteries — and it wasn’t very flattering,” says Bush. “If this inaccurate — and wildly inaccurate — perception of our industry and products is widespread within a major market and influential policy-making community, what hope is there in Europe that the industry will

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17ELBC: VIEW FROM THE CHAIR see a level playing field when it comes to legislation. Or meaningful support for further innovation? Or elsewhere for that matter?” Timmermans’ remarks were all the more puzzling to the lead battery industry in that as one of the key architects of the EU circular economy — and recycling — he is eager to push on energy storage and the need to decarbonize. “As Europe pushes forward with its green recovery it seems odd to single out and dismiss a key battery technology,” says Bush. “And one that is key to helping achieve decarbonisation goals. It begs the question what more must we do to change these outdated perceptions? “Meanwhile in the US — the mood is very different as the Department for Energy signals support for more research into advanced lead battery technology. So how do we achieve more consistent support for the technology globally?” One of the long-standing problems for the ILA has been the dangerous and illegal disposal of lead batteries and their impact on the environment. In Europe, North America and, nowadays across China, lead batteries are collected and recycled largely without problems for local communities. But it’s not the case everywhere. Car batteries have a value of around $15 upwards in terms of the value of their lead as a scrap metal. In poorer parts of the world recycling this lead is done by the so-called ‘informal’ sector causing irresponsible lead pollution harming whole communities. Part of the ILA’s long term remit has always been to try and build lead recycling in a safe way. “We call it our lead battery materials stewardship program,” says Bush. It’s an issue we’re very much involved with. “The recent report by UNICEF-Pure Earth, which shone a light on problems with informal battery recycling and its impact on people in low and middle income countries will certainly be a talking point. It has highlighted the importance of our industry’s material stewardship initiative. “And the Clarios Foundation’s joint project partnering with UNICEF to help tackle some of the problem areas highlighted in the report is a significant step forward. “There is no doubt that the industry is committed to being part of the solution and will work together with Pure Earth, UNICEF and others to continue the efforts ILA has been supporting to help eradicate the problems presented by informal and often illegal recycling.”

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Welcome to our virtual conference

Andy Bush: “It was clear early on from my discussions with companies and delegates that the European Lead Battery Conference, with its long and proud history, is too important to cancel or delay.

“If you’d told me last December that we would be hosting a threeday conference, live from a studio, bringing together battery experts and companies from across the world — and doing it all online — I’d have laughed. But that is exactly what we are doing. And we are delighted with the response and the support we have had from the entire industry. It was clear early on from my discussions with companies and delegates that the European Lead Battery Conference, with its long and proud history, is too important to cancel or delay. To help us do this we have an impressive line-up of experts and industry commentators who will bring their insights and analysis to the first day of the event. And, of course, we continue to focus on delivering our respected technical program where we have

more than 60 presentations detailing many significant research and project developments, together with a panel of experts providing commentary and debate. We are looking forward to catching up with so many colleagues and ELBC supporters from around the world. And this year I’m delighted to be welcoming many more delegates who will be able to join because the event is virtual and it is easier to participate wherever you are. This will be our first live, virtual conference so we’ll wait to see what delegates and exhibitors make of the experience. I’m delighted the industry has come together to both support ELBC and our program. It’s a key event and an important stepping-stone as we look ahead to a decade of considerable uncertainty, change and opportunity.”

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17ELBC: ELBC 17 — THE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE Housed on a dedicated conference platform, virtual ELBC includes an extensive program of speakers with more than 50 presentations on themes ranging from market analysis to the latest technical advances in lead battery research. Hillary Christie reports.

Raising expectations — and keeping them high When you receive this supplement, registration will still be open online. Single user registration fees are €499 ($590), with discounts for multiple registrants and members of ILA or CBI. Login details will be emailed one week before the first live session to give delegates the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the platform and view the advance content.

Registered delegates will receive contact details to request technical assistance, and will also have access to a help desk in the virtual conference centre. Delegates will be able to download the full technical session of presentations on demand one week before the live event, and then access the event itself from a desktop, mobile or tablet device.

The main hall

Delegates can also access all presentations and the exhibition hall for three weeks after the live event. They can also see reviews made during the event. Each day from September 22-24, ELBC will be live for three hours from 12:00-15:00 BST. Delegates can log into the platform, look around the exhibits, meet other delegates in the dedicated network-

Exhibitor’s stand

GETTING THE MOST FROM VIRTUAL CONFERENCES Familiarize. Login details will be emailed to registered delegates one week before the conference opens. Use this time to explore the features on the platform, check your internet speed, and test your audio and video. The more familiar you are with the technology and tools available, the more you’ll be able to pay attention and engage with the content during the live conference. Eliminate distractions. Find a quiet, comfortable space to set up. Grab yourself a drink and something to eat and make sure any tools you may need — chargers, earbuds, notepad, pen — are nearby. Close any unrelated tabs or windows on your device, and turn off any notifications that may interrupt the session. Connect, connect, connect. Although circumstances may be

different from regular conferences, take advantage of every opportunity to connect to other delegates, whether via private chat or during the live Q&A sessions. Boost your social engagement by attending ‘with’ other colleagues or co-workers. You can schedule a virtual meeting in between breaks or after the conference to share ideas and discuss how the information learned may affect your business.

Be presentable — clean clothes (at least on top half!)

10 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

The conference itself is the place to see and be seen, but don’t forget to interact outside the main event. Twitter: @ILA_lead, LinkedIn: International Lead Association, and #ELBC. It can be helpful to have the associated social media open alongside the virtual conference so you can keep an eye on hashtags and see what other attendees are saying. Basic do’s and don’t’s. In the unlikely event of any harassment or inappropriate behaviour, report this to 17ELBC staff on info.17elbc@tfigroup. com. • Be presentable — clean clothes (at least for the top half!) • Be early — log in early to make sure everything is working and you aren’t scrambling to sort papers or find your charger. • Mute your microphone —

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17ELBC: ELBC 17 — THE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE Tuesday, September 22 Live from the ELBC Studio 12:00-15:00 BST

Exhibition hall

ing lounge and chat 24 hours a day while the live event is online. Delegates will access 17ELBC through a dedicated digital platform, and then enter the main lobby of the conference venue. From there they can go into the other rooms such as the main auditorium, exhibition hall or networking lounge. Exhibition hall — open 24/7 Delegates can visit interactive, fully branded exhibition booths featuring displays for suppliers to showcase their latest products. Information will be presented through a variety of media options including videos, slides, and PDFs. Delegates can interact live with company representatives on the booths using open or private 1-2-1 chat functions via video, audio or text.

microphones can pick up distracting background noise that may interfere with other people talking. Make sure your microphone is muted when listening to others. • Keep the camera still — if using a tablet or mobile device, make sure it’s on a stand or propped up securely. If you need to walk around or wave your arms about in frustration, turn your camera off to keep people from feeling dizzy. • Background matters — the bathroom may be the quietest place in the house, but it’s not the most professional. If absolutely necessary, sit backwards on the seat and hang a nice shower curtain! • Just a reminder: attendees may not record or broadcast audio or video of the 17ELBC sessions. For anyone participating in a video

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In the event there are no representatives on the booth when a delegate visits, they can leave a message to alert the exhibitor that they wish to connect. Networking lounge — open 24/7 The lounge lists all of the delegates on the platform with the ability to contact them directly via video, audio or text. If a delegate is not available, you can leave a message.

Day one focuses on Industry Insights — live and interactive with keynotes assessing the impact on the industry of the Covid-19 pandemic and what the next year will hold for lead batteries. Delegates will have an opportunity to ask questions and join the discussion live, or connect with speakers off-line. Additional presentations will become available for viewing on demand in the auditorium. Delegates will also be able to access the live sessions presentations on demand at this time. • Industry insight • Key notes Wednesday, September 23 Live from the ELBC Studio 12:00-15:00 BST At the start of each panel session, there will be a short recap on the main conclusions from each speaker in that session. The remainder of the session will be devoted to an interactive discussion between the expert speakers and the delegates, managed from the ELBC Studio.

Networking lounge

panel discussion, whether as a speaker or a delegate asking a question, 17ELBC reserves the right to your video being recorded so that it is available on the platform for everyone to view after the live session has finished. Consider future plans. Current circumstances are making online events a necessary tool, although the trend of moving events to digital platforms is not likely to fade. Consider the best way for you to take advantage of these for the future. If this is your first virtual conference, make sure to take notes and engage as much as possible to familiarize yourself with the format. As well as being convenient and inexpensive, virtual conferences offer an effective way of sharing information and ideas without the logistical complications of travel and accommodation.

• Technical panel discussion 1 — Automotive battery enhancements • Technical panel discussion 2 — Carbon additives for automotive applications • Technical panel discussion 3 — Fundamental science I Thursday, September 24 Live from the ELBC Studio 12:00-15:00 BST • Technical panel discussion 1 — Lead batteries in energy storage applications • Technical panel discussion 2 — Fundamental science II • Technical panel discussion 3 — Enhancements in industrial applications

User interface

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17ELBC PRESENTATIONS: DARAMIC

Polyethylene separators in EFBs — where to next? Jörg Deiters, global technical service director for Daramic, discusses how the firm’s research is already achieving CBI goals for 2022 performance. This presentation will show how Daramic has pushed back the boundaries of separator technology over the years and its path in the future. Enhanced Flooded Batteries are a key area of development — they not only are economically well suited to the new generations of stop-start cars, but these improvements can be extended to other batteries. This presentation will show that solid advances have been made in

achieving the goals of the Consortium for Battery Innovation. The CBI aims to improve four key performance indicators: • Cycle life when operating at a partial stage of charge @17.5% depth of discharge • Dynamic charge acceptance • Reduce water loss, and • Grid corrosion according to the J2801 life test. Previous PE separators were a

Standard SLI Separator in Partial State of Charge (PSoC)

Effect of Separator Profile on Cycle Life and DCA

Compression Resistant Separator in Partial State of Charge (PSoC)

VW 17.5% Partial State of Charge (PSoC) Test (1) 13.5

Daramic® RipTide™ C*

Loss of Channels for acid mixing

(~11 ribs)

Maintain Channels for acid mixing

Swelling Positive

(~35 ribs)

12.5

Standard SLI

11.5 11.0

Swelling Negative

Unsupported active material continues to swell and becomes inactive

Smaller area of unsupported active material – More Channel

2.4

2022 CBI Target: 2.0 A/Ah

2.0 1.6

End of life 0

0.8

200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200

Negative Ribs utilized with both profiles

0.4

2018 CBI Target: 0.4 A/Ah 10

1 - Average three batteries 2 - after 510 Partial State of Charge (PSoC) Cycles * Daramic Proprietary Intellectual Property

Active material swelling can be restrained with higher amount of separator ribs

Figure 1: Active material swelling can be restrained with higher amount of separator rib 9

Separator profile change alone extends cycle life and DCA

Effect of Separator Profile Deep DoD – In-Motion Cycling

Effect of Separator Formula – Improved Battery Initials

 RipTide M combined with negative cross rib (X)

 DARAMIC® EFS™ for EFB batteries requiring high electrical loads

Deep DoD Cycling (1) 70Ah EFB+

ER EFS™ 200/250 Daramic® EFS™*

DTCBL Testing

*Daramic Proprietary IP

Control A

End of Discharge Voltage (V)

Time (sec)

DCA improvement by 2.7x

Cycle life improved by 3.0x

* Daramic Proprietary Intellectual Property

Standard SLI Riptide C

1.2

10.5

Cycle #

Swelling Negative

(1) (2)

2.8

2022 CBI Target : 2000 Cycles

12.0

9.5

3.6 3.2

10.0

Swelling Positive

VW DCA at 70% SOC

RipTide C*

Standard SLI RipTide C* Riptide C

13.0

End of Discharge Voltage (V)

SLI Separator

DCA (A/Ah)

RipTide™ C - Prevent Swelling of Active Material

simple plastic separation to keep the positive and negative electrodes apart, to reduce electrical resistance and vertical positive ribs were used on one side to strengthen the separator and keep back-web thickness down. That was the old state of play for a basic separator. Daramic has looked at three particular areas in boosting the performance of polyethylene separators. There were three main areas of improvement looked at: adjusting the separator profile; improving the separator formula; and how additives, notably carbon, boost performance.

Control B

Riptide M-X

EFS

12.5

U10s

SAE



see below

by ~ 0.1 mΩ

by ~ + 100 mV

by ~ + 5 seconds

U10s = Voltage after 10 s discharge at –18°C (EN 50342-1:2015) SAE = Cold Cranking Amps in seconds above 7.2 volts

Separator Electrical Resistance (ER)

12.0 11.5

11.0 10.5

180

270

360

450

540

630

720

RipTide M-X with NCR

Cycle Number

RipM-X outperforms standard eleven rib separators in Deep DoD cycling in-motion

Not only important for EFB starter batteries: Lower battery internal resistance

Effect of separator formula – Higher Porosity

Effect of Propriety Additives

 Motive Power

 Golf Cart – DARAMIC HD Plus

– Serrated ribs used by many EMEA motive power cell producers – HiCharge™ helps to extend battery life in motive power applications – Newest battery test results have proven that improved acid availability supported by the Daramic PE separator (profile/porosity) helps to improve capacity over cycle life

Product

DARAMIC Feature

DARAMIC IND CL

RipTide C = Serrated Ribs

Additive Coating

New development:

+ High Porosity

– BC-S-06 Cycling at 27°C in Motion -- HD Plus –  Control

Customer Benefit • •

Active material loss mitigated (EFB) Reduces acid stratification (EFB & motive power)

Customer Value

•

Extends Cycle Life

•

Reduces Water Loss and Grid Corrosion

•

Extends Cycle Life

•

More acid availability & lower internal resistance

•

Increase total capacity output in Ah

 DARAMIC HD Plus is suitable for « longer run time » and/or « higher warranty »  Multiple customers have tested HD Plus and are planning to convert to HD Plus from Next Best Alternative

Higher separator porosity of DARAMIC IND CL (67%) shows a clear effect on

12 • Batteries International • 17 ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

HD Plus gives longer life and more capacity than PE Hybrid separators, due to optimized

www.batteriesinternational.com

17ELBC PRESENTATIONS: DARAMIC The separator profile Improving the separator profile was achieved by adjusting the ribs running through the separator. Historically Daramic has produced two products for high performance batteries HP-X and DuraLife® that use cross negative ribs. DuraLife, launched in 2014 in Asia and the rest of the world in 2016 in particular is already sold in high volumes (particularly in hot climate countries) as it mitigates water loss and grid corrosion. Daramic also has developed RipTide C™ which — among other things — by the addition of a higher amount of separator ribs (around 35) arranged in a serrated fashion® than the standard 11 for a SLI separator in an PSoC maintains channels for acid mixing. The problem of acid stratification is dealt with. RipTide which was launched last year is in a multi-step process of de-

velopment and also coincides with Daramic’s drive (see Figure 8) to get yet better performance through the addition of carbon in different formulations. Figures 1-2 shows the substantial performance gains using these improved separator profiles.

Carbon Coated Separator Properties and Usage

Standard Industry Solution

Proposed Solution

Characteristic

Separator Backweb Thickness Separator Electrical Resistance

Active Material

Carbon Coating

Porous Carbon Layer PbSO4 forms first on the outer plate surface

Units

Standard SLI Separator

Daramic Carbon Coated Separator*

µm

250

260

mΩ/cm2

PE Layer

Figure 7: Using the separator as a means to deliver carbon to the area where PbSO4 first forms 15

Effect of Carbon on Cycle Life and DCA 3.6

1.9

2.8 2.4

2022 CBI Target: 2.0 A/Ah

2.0 1.6

0.4

2018 CBI Target: 0.4 A/Ah

200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200

Cycle

Rip Tide-C + Carbon V2 Rip Tide-C + Carbon V2+ Additive

2.3 2.2

2022 CBI Target : 2000 Cycles

2.1

Neg electrode after PSoC Cycling with RipTide C + Carbon separator

2 1.9

2050 cycles

1465 cycles

1.8

End of life

1.7

Time (sec)

Cycle life improvement by 2.6x

1.6

DCA improvement by 3.8x

1 - Average three cells 2 - after 510 PSoC Cycles * Daramic Proprietary Intellectual Property

(1)data

Drawing closer to 2022 CBI Goals in Cycle Life and DCA

VW 17.5% Partial State of Charge (PSoC) Test VW 17.5% PSoC Test

2.4

0.8

End of Life 0

Interaction with Expander Lower Cranking Power

(1) (2)

1.2

1.8

Higher Water Loss



Figure 8: Addition of carbon to the separator can reduce the usage and bring further benefits

End of Discharge Voltage (V)

2.0



Addition of carbon to the separator can reduce the usage and bring further benefits

Standard SLI Riptide RipTideCC* Riptide RipTideCC*with withCarbon Carbonv1 v1 RipTideCC*with withCarbon Carbonv2 v2 Riptide

3.2

DCA (A/Ah)

End (V) End of of Discharge Discharge Voltage Voltage(V)

2022 CBI Target: 2000 cycles

2.1

1.7

VW DCA at 70% SOC

Standard SLI Riptide C RipTide C* Riptide C RipTide C*with withCarbon Carbonv1 v1 RipTide C*with withcarbon Carbonv2v2 Riptide C

2.2

Daramic® Carbon Coated Separator*

Effect of special additive on water loss

VW 17.5% Partial State of Charge (PSoC) Test (1) 2.3

Carbon Additon on Separator

* Daramic Proprietary Intellectual Property

Separator as a means to deliver the carbon to the area where PbSO4 first forms

PE Separator

Carbon to NAM Downsides

Carbon Additon in NAM

Daramic® Carbon Coated Separator*

* Daramic Proprietary Intellectual Property

Porous Carbon Layer

Coating the carbon on the separator uses 60% lower amount when compared to addition in the NAM

Carbon Application Amount

Strategically apply carbon to affected area

Carbon Particles

Cross Sectional SEM

Key Property Comparison

Negative Grid

Separator

Negative Grid

Separator

Separator additives Additives to the separator are probably the most exciting area of research for Daramic — with the application of carbon being at the heart of it. (Figures 6-7). Figures 8-9 shows the huge improvements in cycle life and DCA being made using different formulations of carbon added to the separator. Unfortunately, the addition of carbon in the first version of RipTide increased water loss. Figures 9-11 in particular are the most exciting in that it shows how the use of an additive to prevent water loss combined with the carbon means that the CBI target of 2000 cycles has been met — and exceeded.

Improving the separator formula Lowering the electrical resistance, and so lowering the battery’s internal resistance, and increasing the porosity are key goals for improved separators and in 2015 Daramic developed EFS (enhanced flooded separators). This contained an advanced polymer structure for better electrical performance and strength, greater porosity and lower electrical resistance. The firm recently launched an update to its HD line called HD Plus™ which incorporates a new PE formulation that counteracts

Additives to the separator - Carbon Addition

Active Material

the effects of antimony migration. Figures 3-5 shows the performance gains using an improved separator formula.

200

400

600

based on 2 cells each

800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200

Neg electrode after PSoC Cycling with same separator + Additive

Cycle (#)

Combination of profile (RipTide C), carbon coating and additive exceeded 2022 CBI target in

Summary

Water Loss (WL) Estimation

 DARAMIC’s 2 V cell test results compared to CBI targets: WL estimation using Constant Overcharge for 96 hrs

Water Loss Estimation ( Const. Overcharge for 96 hrs)

30 25 20 15 10 5

Rip Tide-C + Carbon V2+ Additive

Rip Tide C + Carbon V1

5.5

CBI 2018

2019 (Daramic)

2020 (Daramic)

CBI 2022

PSoC Cycle life

1500

1600

2050

2000

DCA (A/Ah)

0.4

1.7

2.0

Water Loss (g/Ah)

4.25

Corrosion, J2801 (units)

tbd

5 4.5

 Daramic has provided improvements to Enhanced Flooded Batteries by:

4 3.5

Rip Tide C

2022 CBI target: 3g/Ah

3 2.5

Standard SLI

2 1.5

Rip Tide-C + Carbon V2

Key Performance Indicators

Battery Testing Vs Cell Testing

Weight Loss (g/Ah) VW 42 days of overcharging test

Overcharing current

Battery Testing versus Cell Testing

Effect

Improvements on

- Negative Cross Ribs

Acid to negative plate

PSoC cycling

- Serrated Ribs

Prevent Active Mass Swelling

PSoC cycling, DCA

- Addition of Carbon

In contact where PbSO4 first forms

PSoC cycling, DCA (but: Issue water loss)

- All above + Addition of additive

Reduction of water loss

Potential to Reach 2022 CBI Targets

Rip Tide C + Carbon V2

Modified Formula/Additives

Rip Tide C + Carbon V2 + Additive ( Estimated value)

Modified Separator profile

Steady State Overcharging current (mA) Modified SAE-J537 overcharging test

RipTide C + Carbon coating + Additive can achieve < 3 g/Ah water loss

www.batteriesinternational.com

Figure 12: Putting it all together. Daramic is already beating some CBI targets and is progressing to meet the rest

Batteries International • 17 ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020 • 13

17ELBC: TIMELINE — 1990 TO DATE

A brief history

of lead battery time… 1990 • Zeki Sarıçam, founder of Turkeybased battery machine maker Zesar, makes first international sales to Tudor in Spain and India. It’s the harbinger of rapid growth and internationalization for the firm.

Zeki Sarıçam

• Tudor Accumulators was absorbed by the CEAC (European Accumulators Company). 1991 • The first attempts in a generation to manufacture bipolar batteries start with Welsh firm Atraverda being founded. The aim is to commercialize the bipolar lead acid battery using Ebonex ceramic — a metallic-type conductor having a conductivity comparable to carbon but with superior oxidation resistance. The crystal structure of the titanium suboxides makes for a combination of corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance and electrical conductivity. Commercialization of the product is troubled by management conflicts and the advantages of the battery,

14 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

such as reduced levels of lead being hampered by difficulties in putting on to a commercial production line. It disappears from sight. • Carbon nanotubes, aka Buckytubes, are discovered by the Japanese electron microscopist Sumio Iijima, who was studying the material deposited on the cathode during the arc-evaporation synthesis of fullerenes. Buckytubes can exhibit either semiconducting or metallic

Sumio Iijima

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17ELBC: TIMELINE — 1990 TO DATE

Jerry Cole

But to those in the know, the history of the battery is more a series of torrid episodes resembling scenes from Peyton Place than Little House on the Prairie! It’s also a strange industry. Competitive to its core but gracious in helping competitors when circumstances change.

properties. It would take a further 25 years before the potential of carbon nanotubes in lead batteries was to be exploited successfully. Their development continues to hold enormous potential for the battery business. They also have the intrinsic characteristics desired in nanomaterials used as electrodes in batteries and capacitors, a tremendously high surface area (~1000m2/g), good electrical conductivity, and very importantly, their linear geometry makes their surface highly accessible to the electrolyte. Buckytubes have the highest reversible capacity of any carbon material for use in lithium-ion batteries.

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1992 • Formation of the ALABC — the Advanced Lead Acid Battery Consortium — by Jerry Cole, leads to the appointment of programme manager Bob Nelson and is managed by the International Lead Association. It was designed to counter moves by US carmakers to sideline lead battery manufacturers. ALABC is the forerunner of today’s Consortium for Battery Innovation. 1993 • Originally a consulting firm, FRÖTEK, set up in 1985, changes business direction and starts producing battery-related equipment and connections (1987). This year sets up subsidiary in Budapest, Hungary. 1994 • Exide Technologies takes over the Sociedad Española del Accumulador Tudor, effectively ending the Tudor brand. CEAC, which in 1990 had taken over Tudor, is taken over by Exide the following year. • PENOX is created by a merger of Heubach & Lindgens and Metaleurop, bringing together lead oxide production and experience in the fields of red lead, litharge, battery oxide and plant engineering. • BFS launches Battery Watering Plug, Generation III made from black, impact resistant polypropylene. The previous generations were II (1984) and I (1982). Later developments included a central degassing plug (1998), with a safety valve (2000); a generation IV plug (2010) and a push-in plug (2016). The future standard BFS is a push-in plug IV with float housing (2018).

In other news: 1990: Hubble telescope launched into space • 1994: Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa • 1994: Justin Bieber was born • 1995: OJ Simpson trial 1996: Dolly the sheep is first cloned mammal

To the outsider the lead battery business seems to be a tranquil landscape where nothing seems to change very rapidly.

Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020 • 15

INNOVATION • PERFORMANCE • RELIABILITY World Class Battery Manufacturing Equipment & Technology

1970 Grid Mold Venting

1989 Leko is acquired by The Wirtz Group of Companies 1986 Rotary Plate Cutting

1932 Wirtz Manufacturing is established in the USA

1982 ConCast 1990 Plate Stacking

1955 Grid Casting Machine

1967 Lead Delivery Pump 1975 Lead Delivery Valve

1992 Oxmaster is acquired by The Wirtz Group of Companies 1985 Pasting Machines

SINCE1932 WWW.WIRTZUSA.COM +1 810 987 7600

2000 Conbro is acquired by The Wirtz Group of Companies

2008 Wirtz builds 20,000 sq ft. machine center at headquarters

2010 Strip Casting Rolling

1997 ConRoll

2002 BatteryRecycling Systems is acquired by The Wirtz Group of Companies

2011 Wirtz expands to India 2005 ConPunch

2006 Wirtz expands to China

2014 Wirtz granted patent for superior positive grid making process

2006 Industrial ConCast 2013 Wirtz developed the Combined Frame Steel Belt Rotary Plate Parter machine

17ELBC: TIMELINE — 1990 TO DATE • Exide Technologies acquires GNB Technologies, an Australian company owned by Pacific Dunlop and a supplier of industrial and automotive batteries. Many say it will prove an acquisition too far. Chapter 11 bankruptcy awaits.

1995 Exide Industries in India loses legacy name of Chloride Industries, a relic from India’s colonial history. 1996 • Atomized Products Group, a producer of negative battery plate expanders and base metal powders, is incorporated in the US state of Georgia. • BM-Rosendahl, a producer of lead battery manufacturing products, is formed. It is a business unit of Rosendahl Nextrom. • JBI Corporation, an independent battery testing lab, appoints Joe Badger as president of the family business. In the 1990s he expands the firm from one technician and a 1,000 sq ft facility to four technicians in a 7,500 sq ft plan. It receives accreditation to ISO/ IEC 17025 General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories in 2000. • Penox forms joint venture with Mexico’s Pyosa. Penox takes complete ownership in 2006. 1997 Amara Raja Batteries of India signs a joint venture with Johnson Controls to manufacture automotive batteries in India. 1998 • ENTEK, the international battery separator manufacturer, sets up extruder division.

2001

Dong Li

• Leoch International Technology is founded. It is now the largest exporter of lead acid batteries in China. • FRÖTEK acquires production hall in Großbreitenbach, Thuringia, Germany and second hall (2002). 1990-2000 • Bertola develops the production of the converters AC/DC, based on high frequency bidirectional inverters. 2000 • Formation of EnerSys by acquisition of Yuasa by institutional investors. In January 2001 the name Yuasa is replaced with EnerSys. This is quickly followed by a merger with Hawker Group (2002) and the acquisition of Energy Storage Products Group of Invensys that year.

1999

• Hadi, the specialist battery machine manufacturer, announces that almost 100% of its production from its German and Austrian plants is destined for export. The firm had grown from its start in 1961 to become a leader in the niche areas of spine casting of positive tubular grids and paste-filling. Continued investment in drilling machinery, design programmes and milling machines continues. In 2007 a new CNC sheet metal workshop is installed.

• Accumalux sets up operations in the Czech Republic, its first major move to expand outside its Luxembourg base. The firm, founded in 1976, sets up operations in Bulgaria (2005), Australia (2008) and Russia (2013).

• Daramic, the international separator firm, establishes footprint in Asia with opening of manufacturing plant in Prachinburi, Thailand. As of 2020 it had five lines operational in the country.

• Amara Raja sets up automotive battery division. Other divisions formed are a small battery division (2008), UPS battery (2012), a tubular battery division (2015), and a bipolar battery division (2019). • Fiamm acquires Czech Republic’s Akuma Group.

18 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

• Russian scientists ‘work on developing a lead carbon battery comes to the start of commercialization and eventual creation of Axion Power. The PbC battery is similar to a standard one but uses a standard lead acid battery positive electrode and a supercapacitor negative electrode. The specific type of activated carbon it uses has an extremely high surface area and has been formulated for use in electrochemical applications. During charge and discharge, the positive electrode undergoes the same chemical reaction that occurs in a conventional lead acid battery. The main difference in the PbC battery is the replacement of the lead negative electrode with an activated carbon electrode which, being a supercap, does not undergo a chemical reaction at all. Ultimately Axion Power struggled for a decade and a half but never succeeded in commercializing its product. • FRÖTEK opens office in Manchester, UK. • Proposed 42V standard dominates debate on future of lead batteries. Arguments to resolve the issue versus 48V technology take almost two decades to be resolved. • Invensys acquires Mexican facility in Tijuana. 2002 • Johnson Controls acquires its Varta automotive battery division, based in Germany. Sales exceed $20 billion. • Former Exide Technologies bosses Arthur Hawkins and Douglas Pearson found guilty of fraud. • Exide Technologies files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after racking up a debt of $2.5 billion as a result of the recent acquisitions. It would be two years before the company would be free of the bankruptcy protection.

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17ELBC: TIMELINE — 1990 TO DATE

• Jim Gilmour takes over as president of Farmer Mold & Machine Works. • Birth of Sorfin Yoshimura Qingdao in China. This is the first regional joint venture company for SY Group. SY had been formed in 1986 from a partnership between Tom Yoshimura, who started Yoshimura Products in 1981, and Paul Fink. • Chinese battery manufacturer BYD buys 77% stake in Xi’An Qinchuan Autostate car firm. 2004 • Richardson Molding acquires Hardigg Battery Products, giving it the largest product line in US SLI and industrial batteries. • EnerSys completes IPO. Acquires Fiamm Motive Power business (2005), Gaz Modular Energy, ATK and CFT (2006), Leclanché (2007), Energia (2007). Forms joint venture with Assad (2008). • Johnson Controls ventures into lithium hybrid vehicle batteries following an order from the US Advanced Battery Consortium. • Trojan develops and launches its new line of spill-proof maintenancefree AGM batteries. • International expansion of FRÖTEK continues with work in Ukraine, China (2005), South Africa (2006), US (2009). • CSIRO researchers Nigel Haigh, Lan Lam, Christopher Phyland and David Rand awarded patent for the UltraBattery. This is a hybrid device that combines ultracapacitor technology with lead-acid battery technology in a single cell with a common electrolyte. The UltraBattery technology suffers less from the development of permanent (or hard) sulfation on the negative battery electrode – a problem commonly exhibited in conventional lead acid batteries. Another patent is awarded to Lan Lam and Jun Furukuwa in 2008 for the final development of the battery.

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2005 • US firm Firefly Energy receives first of several US patents for its carbongraphite foam lead acid battery technology based on a material sciences innovation discovered by Caterpillar Inc. Unlike conventional lead acid batteries, this lasts longer, is smaller, weighs less because of the reduction of lead, sheds heat more effectively and can be re-charged faster. • TBS Engineering buys Daga from Daramic. • Fiamm establishes joint venture with Chen group in China. • Exide Technologies announces closure of UK automotive battery factory. • Källström, the Swedish battery filling company, moves from Malmö to its new base in Eslöv. • Johnson Controls acquires Delphi’s global automotive battery business. • Sovema acquires Accuma Engineering. 2006 • Daramic expands into China by forming a joint venture. The following year it acquires a plant in Tianjin, China. • After an 18-month hiatus Batteries International is relaunched by new owner and life-long journalist Michael Halls. • Trojan Battery breaks ground on new plant in Sandersville, Georgia. • Johnson Controls and Saft agree to collaborate in a venture that falls apart acrimoniously five years later over “a fundamental disagreement” about the direction and scope of the JV. 2007 • ENTEK sold to its senior manufacturing team. • Spectrum/Rayovac reorganize in hunt for profitability.

In other news: 1997: The death of Princess Diana • 1999: The arrival of the Euro • 2000: A new millennium!! • 2001: Terrorists destroy twin Towers killing 2,977 people • 2004: George W. Bush re-elected President of USA

2003

• The race into China hots up. Johnson Controls forms a joint

Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020 • 19

17ELBC: TIMELINE — 1990 TO DATE venture with China’s Fengfan to make sealed lead acid batteries. This is the start of a huge investment made into the People’s Republic in future years, including troubled relations with government agencies in the early 2010s. • European Chemicals Agency announces REACH requirements as previous EU directives are bound into the one legislation. 2008 • Sovema, Italian battery machine manufacturer, acquires Bitrode Corp, a leading manufacturer of battery testing equipment. It marks the first major move into the US market. • Greek battery giant Sunlight makes €50m investment in lead recycling plant. • GS Yuasa forms Thailand joint venture with Siam Motors. • Polypore International, owner of separator giant Daramic, acquires Microporous. It would take five years for the US Federal Trade Commission to rule that the acquisition had been uncompetitive. • Scott Fink and Taro Yoshimura become presidents of Sorfin Yoshimura NY and Tokyo respectively and transformation to the second generation formally takes place. 2009 • Zesar launches EVOLINE, low cost, high performance assembly line. The product is first fruit of involvement in 3D computer aided design work. • Eternity Technologies is founded as part of Al Dobowi Group. It is based in Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates and is the region’s first modern battery manufacturer. 2010 • Firefly Energy, developer of an advanced lead battery, files for bankruptcy but is bought by Indian firm later that year. Although it announced a distribution agreement in Australia three years later little has been heard of it since.

2011

2013

• David Wilson, head of the International Lead Association, steps down after 35 years. He leaves ILA work fully in 2016. Incoming managing director is Andy Bush.

• Exide Technologies files for bankruptcy protection a second time. As with first Chapter 11, it will take two years before it is able to trade again.

• Sovema moves into the lithium business with creation of business unit called Solith.

• After 22 years of struggling, bipolar start-up Atraverda goes into receivership. • At the end of the year Seven Mile Capital Partners buys Microporous from Polypore/Daramic for $120 million. A new management team is set up early in 2014.

• Birth of SY Europe focuses on growing sales, marketing and logistics competency in the EMEA region. This is followed by SY Brasil and SY India regional offices (2014) and SY Thailand (2015). • EnerSys hits the acquisition trail, once more acquiring ABSL Power Solutions (2011), Ergon Batteries (2011), GAIA Akkumulatorenwerke (2011), EnerSystems (2011), Energy Leader Batteries (2q012), Purcell Systems (2013), UTS Holdings (2014), ICS (2015), Enser (2016), Alpha Technologies (2018), and Northstar Battery Company (2019). • Daramic India relocates to new, larger facility in Bangalore, India. It had been acquired in 2008. • Penox makes first move into Asia and sets up commercial branch in South Korea. By 2015 the firm is producing and selling high grade lead oxides to Asia. In 2017 Penox acquires all the shares of Penox Korea. • Daramic establishes Xiangyang, China plant. • Johnson Controls forms a joint venture with Colombia’s MAC. 2012 • Johnson Power Solutions opens its first US battery recycling centre in Florence, South Carolina. • Emerson completes acquisition of Chloride Group, the end of one of the most famous brands in lead battery history but one that had lost its way a quarter of a century before. • Exide Technologies’ recycling plant in Frisco, Texas is closed, followed by Vernon, California the year after. The issue of lead contamination of the surrounding areas continued to be a problem for Exide until it was sold this year. It also closes its plant in New Zealand,

20 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

• Charlesbank Capital Partners makes initial investment in Trojan Battery. The firm had been in the Godber family since its foundation in 1925. • Ador Digatron joint venture goes ahead between German headquartered Digatron and Ador, a well respected Indian firm and a further move by Digatron to expand its presence in Asia. • Hammond releases K2 range of expanders, offering a step change in lead acid battery performance, particularly in terms of cyclability in partial state of charge and offering performance benefits that can be adjusted to varying temperature ranges and demands. Initially most suited for stop-start and micro-hybrid applications. • Atomized Products Group sets up new $4.3 million operation in Chesapeake in US state of Virginia. • South Africa’s Metair buys 100% of Turkey’s Mutlu Holding and a 75% stake in Mutlu Akü, the lead battery maker. It was already lining up taking a stake in German battery manufacturer Moll (2015), which gives it a part stake in Chaowei, a Chinese battery firm. 2014 • Aqua Metals demonstrates a novel way of recycling lead acid batteries without the use of smelting. Commercialization of the technology stalls later on. After the initial public offering peak of $21 a share, the price trades close to $1. 2015 • Zesar invests in new factory in Manisa, near Turkey’s port city of

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17ELBC: TIMELINE — 1990 TO DATE

• GS Yuasa acquires Turkish battery firm and boosts stake in Malaysia, expands further in Indonesia. • C&D Technologies’ CEO plans revamp aimed to restore lead battery reputation the firm had in the 1990s and 2000s. • ALABC restructuring approved by its members and ILA. • Bipolar batteries make a spectacular return to the limelight with two firms, in particular Advanced Battery Concepts and Gridtential, providing viable alternatives to regular lead batteries. ABC develops GreenSeal technology, a full suite of patented technologies and simplified production processes, to enable the construction of reduced lead content, high performance, lower cost lead batteries in existing formats for today’s and newly enabled future markets. Commercial adoption follows. Gridtential introduces its Silicon Joule technology. This is a substrate that replaces the grid in a battery, resulting in a large reduction in the amount of lead required and better performance. Like ABC’s bipolar batteries most of the regular production of the battery can be built on existing plate-making lines, modified assembly lines and existing formation/finishing lines. • Asahi Kasei acquires Polypore International, the parent company to Daramic and affiliates. • Death of DeLight Breidegam, charismatic founder of East Penn Manufacturing and creator of largest family owned battery business in the US.

DeLight Breidegam

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2016 • Tactical tax reasons are involved in the creation of Johnson Controls International based in Ireland and formed through a merger of Johnson Controls and Tyco International. • Four lead association bodies BCI, ILA, EUROBAT and ABR agree to kickstart a global pro-lead battery campaign. This is the first attempt at full coordination between the organizations. • End of a legend. Ann Noll, one of the great institutions of Battery Council International, retires after 37 years with the council. Greatly missed by North American battery firms as well as worldwide.

Ann Noll

• BCI launches innovation award. Hammond wins award for further development of its K2 range of expanders and opening up its E=MC2 laboratory to serve the battery industry. • Cellusuede moves into new base and 125,000sq ft factory at Rockford in US state of Illinois. • Ecoult, the East Penn subsidiary, installs UltraBattery in smart grid test bed in Dublin. • Founder of ALABC Michael Mayer dies. • A watershed moment for lead battery research when Argonne National Laboratory, RSR Technologies and East Penn Manufacturing agree to work together under a standard US government cooperative research and development agreement. RSR and East Penn to use Argonne’s state-of-the-art analytic technologies to accelerate lead battery research. These same technologies

In other news: 2005: Angela Merkel first female Chancellor of Germany • 2006: Western black rhino declared extinct • 2007: Apple launches iPhone • 2008: Beijing olympics • 2009: Barack Obama 44th president of the USA

Izmir. Later expanded to another factory. Plans are to double the firm’s manufacturing area to 10,000m2.

Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020 • 21

17ELBC: TIMELINE — 1990 TO DATE • Gridtential wins BCI award for its bipolar battery solution but automation problems on the production line dog adoption despite backing from well-known battery manufacturers.

have already been used by lithium battery researchers in previous years. Tests undertaken will investigate the fundamental transport processes in lead batteries, using a variety of characterization techniques available at Argonne. Scientists at Argonne who will be assigned to the project have extensive experience in synchrotron X-ray techniques, in particular for characterizing materials under controlled electrochemical conditions. 2017 • ENTEK International, battery separator designer and producer, signs an agreement with Separindo, the Indonesia-based polyethylene battery separator producer and Japanese glass company NSG Group, to make and sell PE separators across Asia. Breaks ground on new plant for this in 2019. • BCI leads the way with pushing for lower blood lead levels for workers in battery plant. • Doe Run announces plans to expand lead mining on back of higher lead prices. • Monbat buys Italian recycling firm Piombifera Italiana. • Penox opens new product development centre in Germany. • Chinese e-bike lead battery maker Danneng Power International expands output with $870m sales. • BM Rosendahl opens development centre. • EC fines lead cartel Recyclex, Campine, Ecobat Technologies for fixing lead prices.

• Chinese battery firm Leoch makes undisclosed investment in UK firm DBS Energy.

Detchko Pavlov

• Death of Detchko Pavlov, Bulgarian academician and probably the greatest expert on the lead battery that has ever lived. Over his lifetime his research contributed to much of our present understanding of how lead batteries work. He is particularly remembered for the generosity of spirit in sharing this knowledge around the world.

• Duracell unveils new lead battery, citing cost benefits against lithium. • Solar power company Mobisol partners African lead battery firms for storage component to its offering. • Canada’s Discover Energy buys Korean lead manufacturing business iQ Power Asia.

• Daramic greenfield plant in Gujarat, India finished and operational.

• India’s Exide Industries moves into lithium with Leclanché in joint venture.

• NorthStar wins BCI award for its remote monitoring technology. This allows battery users to review the battery’s health and status at any time from anywhere. The embedded battery sensor communicates with both site technicians and power systems to ensure correct installation and settings. The device was launched for the telecom sector, but will be expanded to new segments.

• Innovative New Zealand lead battery pioneer ArcActive partners East Penn.

2018 • Batek Makina opens 43,000 sq ft plant in Dilovasi in Turkey.

• Exide Industries opens $100m plant in Bengal.

• Furukuwa Battery partners Vietnam’s Pinaco in UltraBattery manufacturing deal. Furukuwa already had operations in China, India, Indonesia and Thailand.

• Belectric, a UK lead acid/lithium battery firm, is bought by German utility Innogy SE (previously RWE).

• C&D Technologies, a portfolio company of KPS Capital Partners, acquires Trojan Battery Company.

• Black Diamond Structures opens battery testing for nanomaterials technology facility in Texas.

• Proposal for new body to replace ALABC mooted at Vienna ELBC. The Consortium for Battery Innovation emerged the following year.

• Exide Technologies waives the right to use Exide brand name in perpetuity to Indian battery giant Exide Industries. This follows a 20-year dispute over the issue.

• Hollingsworth and Vose invested in capacity expansion in raw material and global separator production to support the AGM market.

• SY Innovations formed, designed to support SY Group and explore new markets, products and sales/ marketing techniques.

22 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

• Amara Raja, Gravita sign recycling deal. JCI, which has worked with Amara Raja for 20 years, formalized an agreement between the two this year. • Narada inaugurates first of five gridscale lead carbon ESS in Germany. • EnerSys buys Canada’s Alpha Technologies for $750m in push into energy storage markets. • Korean lead battery maker AtlasBX gets go-ahead to build lead battery plant in US. • Trojan Battery sold to C&D Technologies as last remaining link with Godber family cut. 2019 • RSR Technologies wins BCI award with possibly the most important advance in lead research this side of the century. RSR, working with East Penn Manufacturing and the US Argonne National Laboratory, used Argonne’s Advanced Photon Source synchrotron to look at, in real time,

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17ELBC: TIMELINE — 1990 TO DATE

• Water Gremlin moves back to full production after agency shut-down. • Upside Group switches on 25MWh lead carbon system in Germany. 2020 • Hammond Group completes the first step to employee ownership. the crystallization of lead plates at the atomic level during the charging and discharging process. “Innovation is the thing that gives you the opportunity. It’s the promise our future.” The results of the ofresearch enable the firm to develop its alloy, known as Supersoft-Hycycle, which enhances lead battery performance. Tim Ellis, president of RSR Technologies, said: “With this we can compete and win against lithium in many applications with higher performance. “The work at Argonne has helped us understand the physical processes taking place in real time inside batteries to develop higher performance advanced lead batteries. Our Supersoft-Hycycle lead really improves cycle life as validated by many of our customers, especially in higher temperature and extreme operating conditions.” The alloy is already being used by South African battery firm Auto-X, the maker of the Willard brand of batteries. Sally Breidegam Miksiewicz

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• Exide Technologies (and four subsidiaries) files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to facilitate the sale of its North American assets. In July Exide sells its North American assets to Atlas Holdings.

Batteries International • Spring 2018 • 55

• Microporous forms joint partnership with Chinese firm Zisun, the largest fully integrated producer of glass micro-fibres and media in Asia, allowing Microporous to add AGM separators to its product range. • Specialist battery machine maker Wirtz Manufacturing invests in nickel-zinc battery maker ZAF Energy Systems. • Johnson Controls Power Solutions — the former battery division of JCI bought by Brookfield Business Partners for $13 billion — launched itself with the name Clarios. • Lead batteries in India lose subsidies under new FAME-II regulations. • East Penn takes stake in lithium battery maker Navitas.

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• Covid-19 claims first lead battery insolvency victim, Moll, but outlook for the firm brightens later.

• German formation firm using acid recirculation technology Inbatec and Kustan become equal and independent subsidiary of new firm RedDotPlastics. • ArcActive wins BCI innovation award with technology to replace negative battery electrode with nonwoven carbon fabric that achieves high DCA with minimal loss. Later in the year ArcActive is very close to full commercialization of the product. • Neutron diffraction is used for the first time in a project to improve lead battery performance, says Consortium for Battery Innovation. The project, launched in Spain under the CBI’s technical programme, uses hi-tech neutron diffraction techniques to explore the fundamental processes that occur inside lead batteries as they charge and discharge. Exide Technologies and the Institute of Materials Science of Aragon work with the CBI on the project. “This project, the first to be launched in Europe, demonstrates the kind of cutting-edge research now being undertaken by the advanced lead battery industry,” says CBI director Alistair Davidson. “Neutron diffraction probes deeper than X-rays and can provide another perspective into improving the performance of lead batteries. The analysis we’re conducting in Spain will help us develop new high-performing lead batteries.”

In other news: 2010: Haiti is struck by a devastating earthquake • 2012: The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee • 2015: The Paris Climate Chenge Agreement • 2019: Donald Trump withdraws from it • 2020: The corona virus pandemic

• Exide Industries moves into e-rickshaw battery manufacturing.

Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020 • 23

THE PLENARY SESSIONS This year’s plenary sessions will be held live on the opening day of the conference. These papers will mostly look at the health of the lead battery industry in terms of products, market volumes, materials and geography within the context of a world that is in many parts still gripped by the Covid pandemic or reeling in its aftermath.

The battery industry ... the shape of things to come All the plenary sessions will be managed from the specially created ELBC Studio where a team of video and internet engineers will ensure that the quality of the sound and internet feeds are up to scratch. The keynote paper will be given by Mark Wallace, the incoming head of Clarios, the largest automotive battery manufacturer in the world. Wallace started his tenure as Clarios’ president and CEO this May. He joins Clarios with decades of leadership in the automotive, commercial vehicle, off-highway and aftermarket industries. Wallace has specially written a personal message for this showguide — see page 7 — summarizing the main points of his keynote. His thinking is in turn, realistic and idealistic. Realistic in that he is aware of the huge damage that Covid-19 has done to industries around the world but he also is positive about the critical role that batteries have played during the pandemic as well as considering the long term future of lead batteries as bright. But he’s also idealistic too. He considers that “this our chance to reset the bar, creating new and higher standards for ourselves by

addressing the global issue of informal, illegal and substandard recycling of lead-acid batteries” and believing that it is perfectly possible for ourselves as an industry to leave the world a better place than how we found it. The rest of the plenary sessions looks at various aspects of the lead battery business. Christophe Pillot (Avicenne), one of the most respected — and accurate — forecasters of battery demand will look at current market trends. Alistair Davidson (CBI) will look at the ever brighter prospects in battery research. Neil Hawkes (CRU) will examine lead pricing in the years ahead while Farid Ahmed (Wood Mackenzie) will look at the picture from the point of view of interconnected global supply and demand. Much anticipated are the presentations of two experts on China — Huw Roberts (CRU Metals) and Dong Li the founder of battery giant Leoch International. Industrial battery needs will be studied by Nick Starita (H&V), the European regulatory framework by Rene Schroeder (EUROBAT) and the changing automotive energy needs by Carl Telford (Ricardo).

24 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

Battery market trends (20192030) for electronic devices, automotive and industrial applications Christophe Pillot (Avicenne, France) The main goal of this survey is to forecast the worldwide rechargeable battery market from 2019 to 2030: Areas of focus include: • The rechargeable battery market in 2019 — by technology, lead, NiCd, NiMH, Li-ion; by application, portable, industrial, automotive; and, by battery suppliers. • xEV market in 2019 and forecasts up to 2030: automotive market forecasts; car makers’ strategies; lithium ion battery cell, module pack cost structure 2015-2025 • Advanced energy storage for industrial applications & ESS] • Rechargeable battery market forecasts up to 2030 Energy boost: how pioneering research is changing the shape of modern lead batteries Alistair Davidson, (Consortium for Battery Innovation (UK) Research and Innovation is essential to the future of the lead battery industry. Current and future applications continue to require increased functionality from the lead battery, and it is essential that the technology can adapt and improve. This presentation will discuss the work of the Consortium for Battery Innovation (CBI), the world’s only global lead battery research hub, in particular the exciting new research from the 2019-2020 Research program. This includes study of how carbon, expanders and other materials can be used to optimise performance, how techniques such as overcharging can be used to improve performance for energy storage applications and the use of new techniques such as neutron diffraction and scanning transmission electron microscopy.

Current and future applications continue to require increased functionality from the lead battery, and it is essential that the technology can adapt and improve. www.batteriesinternational.com

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THE PLENARY SESSIONS CBI is also involved in benchmarking the ability of next-generation batteries such as the bipolar battery, which is tipped to be a key technology of the future. The presentation will also discuss the growing opportunities for lead batteries in energy storage systems, and a new tool developed by CBI called “CBI Battery Match” that will connect utility and renewable energy storage industry directly with the best lead battery for their system.

Lead prices to sink or swim in the 2020s? Neil Hawkes, CRU, UK

Global market trends for industrial lead batteries Nick Starita, (Hollingsworth and Vose, USA) The global industrial battery market continues to evolve based on the changing needs of its diversified and demanding customer base. This paper will use industry sales data as well as information gathered from industry experts to analyze both the global Stationary and Motive Power battery markets. We will examine the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the industry and other trends and market drivers for each of the markets by region, application, and product line to draw conclusions about the future business outlook for our industry. crucial in determining whether lead prices are looking up again or remain under pressure in this new decade of opportunities as well as challenges for lead.

While primary smelter underperformances provided some price lift last year, the path in lead values in the late 2010s was bumpy but ultimately downwards, driven by leadspecific and broader metal price drivers turning more negative, not least the slowdown in China. The 2020s have had an eventful start, with the damaging impact of the coronavirus outbreak spreading from China around the world, impacting lead production as well as lead demand. Looking beyond the coronavirus dip, is this price retreat just another downward leg in the medium-term price cycle, or are there longer-term issues at play that could sustain a more prolonged period of downward pressure on lead values? The resilience of the lead-based battery sector, under threat from the rise of lithium-based batteries; will be a key factor that determines the lead price path in this new decade. Can lead batteries respond to the threat and defend or even grow its share in some energy storage applications? In addition to the demand path ahead, the response of production, both in mining and recycling, will be

Peak China? Prospects for reshaping patterns of global lead supply and demand

Huw Roberts, CHR Metals, UK China emerged as the largest mine producer of lead in the late 1990s, overtaking Australia, the largest producer of refined lead (primary+secondary) in 2001, eclipsing the US and, in 2003, output across all of Europe and, in 2005, became the world’s largest consumer of lead accounting at that time for 22% of global demand. This was remarkable growth for a country that, 15

26 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

years earlier, represented only 6% of lead consumption. By 2015, Chinese consumption of lead accounted for 43% of global demand and its share has increased further since then. Developments in China, in both supply and demand, have been disruptive to earlier patterns of global lead production and consumption. From the early 2000s, Chinese primary lead smelters became significant consumers of imported lead concentrate, undercutting the terms that could be offered by smelters elsewhere. China’s move from being a major exporter of refined lead from the late 1990s to 2007, and then largescale importer in more recent years, has had an important impact on lead prices. Chinese lead-acid battery makers have also become large suppliers to overseas markets. This has helped to expand demand for lead in China while putting pressure on those previously active in those markets targeted by Chinese manufacturers. Changes in the Chinese market may reshape patterns of global lead supply and demand again. While the growth of a motor vehicle fleet comprising an increasing share of electric vehicles, and thus posing a risk to lead’s principal use in SLI batteries, is not unique to China, there is extensive use of lead-acid batteries to power other forms of transportation in China which is not seen elsewhere. New regulations governing the

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THE PLENARY SESSIONS manufacture and use of electric bicycles (e-bikes), electric tricycles and so-called low speed vehicles may initially cap lead demand in China and then result in its gradual decline.

A review of the lead battery industry in China

The lead butterfly effect: understanding the interconnected world of lead batteries Farid Ahmed (Wood Mackenzie, UK)

address legislative overlaps that exist between the Batteries Directive, Endof-Life Vehicles Directive and REACH Regulation. We will summarize key EU policy developments and provide a forecast what’s ahead of us. It will show the measures the lead battery industry can take to convince EU policy-makers about the benefits of lead batteries. Meeting the battery demands of an increasingly energystorage hungry automotive sector Carl Telford (Ricardo Strategic Consulting, Shoreham-by-Sea, UK)

Dong Li (Leoch International, China)

It has often been said that lead is ‘a big industry but a small world’. The global interconnectivity of this vast sector means that events in a single segment or region often ripple out to be felt across the worldwide business. In this paper, Farid will contextualise the global perspective, focusing on Europe, and demonstrating why, for example, constraints on the Chinese mining industry ultimately impact the competitiveness of battery producers in Europe, the US and other regions far-removed from China. It will also reveal how the interlinked nature of the lead and battery industries can cause dependence on imports and a lack of self-sufficiency. Finally, Farid will also explore some of the opportunities offering a long, positive future for lead batteries – and the issues threatening to snatch away this bright prospect. Towards a new EU regulatory framework on batteries Rene Schroeder (EUROBAT, Brussels, Belgium) 2020 will be the year of the new EU Commission Work Programme with a strong focus on decarbonization, circular economy and industrial policy. All these policies are relevant for manufacturers of lead batteries

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This presentation briefly describes the global lead acid battery market in different regions. This includes detailed analysis of the China market, includes battery manufacturers in different applications such as network power, SLI, motive power, etc, as well as the top customers in each application. It also covers some market information for Asia, such as annual sales, exporting status, and an analysis of challenges and opportunities in the present and future. which are therefore very much in the spotlight of the EU policymakers. This spring, EUROBAT presented its white paper “Battery Innovation Roadmap 2030”, which further builds on the “Election Manifesto”. The white paper gave an overview of the market-oriented innovation potential of all battery technologies in the various applications. From a legislative perspective, the new European Commission will start to work in 2020 on a new regulatory framework for batteries, which will further build on the launch of the European Battery Alliance. The Batteries Directive and the Endof-Life Vehicles Directive are due for revision by the end of 2020, and the Commission already launched the work on sustainability criteria for batteries. The industry, together with other stakeholders, is now calling for the development of a Battery Package to work on these files coherently and from a broader perspective. This will be a great opportunity for the European lead battery industry to

As we enter the 2020s, effective deployment of a suite of suitable battery technologies is paramount. This study assesses the short and medium-term technical requirements for low-voltage batteries; it provides an independent consideration of the relative merits of key commercial and emerging battery technologies. From a technical perspective, this study has focused on the relative merits of battery technologies commercially significant in 12V applications through 2030. This means12V auxiliary battery applications will grow in importance through 2030. Autonomy will necessitate the use of at least two battery chemistries per vehicle. While lithium technologies hold some performance advantages in 12V applications in comparison to leadbased batteries (high energy density, high charge acceptance, opportunity to lower weight), from an applications standpoint, lithium batteries do not fulfil all critical industry requirements for 12V applications. Conversely, lead batteries do fulfil all major requirements for 12V applications. Therefore, maintaining access to lead-battery technology is essential for the foreseeable future. In short: An industry-wide transition to electrification is necessary; a successful transition will only be enabled by parallel deployment of lead and lithium-based battery technologies.

An industry wide transition to electrification is necessary; a successful transition will only be enabled by parallel development of lead and lithium based technologies

Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020 • 27

THE PLENARY SESSIONS Matthew Raiford, manager of the Consortium for Battery Innovation, will present on the CBI innovation roadmap and the technical program in the upcoming 17ELBC.

Have destination, will travel The CBI has produced an innovation roadmap describing the performance characteristics lead battery research should focus on to meet the future demands for batteries in all applications. The technical program operates features projects in fundamental science, automotive battery improvement, and pathways to improve all lead batteries in energy storage for utility services. The projects target specific key performance indicators outlined in the innovation roadmap. Electron microscopy is being utilized like never before in an indepth imaging project using state-ofthe-art techniques at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The physicists at UCLA have pioneered a new technique that allows active investigation of liquid systems under an electrochemical potential, allowing for never-before-seen growth and dissolution of active surfaces. CBI has partnered with UCLA to study the transformation of the negative and positive material in lead batteries during charge and discharge. The goal is to understand how the expansion and change in crystals over time negatively impacts the constitution of lead battery materials in key duty cycles, such as partialstate-of-charge operation common

in micro-hybrid and dynamic utility applications. Similarly, CBI has partnered with the Instituto Ciencias Materiales de Aragón (ICMA) in Azuqueca, Spain in a demonstration project to understand the capabilities of neutron diffraction in monitoring lead battery electrodes during operation. Initial results indicate there is potential for the technique to monitor the surface during operation.

The physicists at UCLA have pioneered a new technique that allows active investigation of liquid systems under an electrochemical potential, allowing for neverbefore-seen growth and dissolution of active surfaces. Automobiles have become an important avenue for decarbonization, and lead batteries provide a cost-effective, simple pathway to decrease automotive CO2 emissions. As described in the roadmap, increasing DCA is imperative and would result in an increased contribution of lead batteries to hybridization. CBI has partnered with a team consisting of East Penn

Indicator

2018 2022 2025

DCA. A/Ah

0.4

2.0

PSoC, 17.5% DoD

1500 EFB

2000 EFB

3000 EFB

Water loss, g/Ah

< 3

Corrosion, J2801, Units

CBI innovation targets and timeline 2018-2025

28 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

CBI priority areas in red

Manufacturing, Lignotech USA, Cabot, and Hammond to optimize and study common lead battery additives (barium sulfate, carbon, and lignosulfonate). The goal of the project is to find the optimum ratio of these additives for DCA and PSoC (EN MHT) cycle life. CBI is also exploring the performance of bipolar batteries in automotive applications. A small demonstration project is underway with Advanced Battery Concepts. The aim of this work is to benchmark the performance of this new lead battery technology in well known testing standards, such as the EN MHT test and run-in DCA test. The management and monitoring of overcharge of lead battery strings and systems in energy storage systems for utility services may provide a route to improving lifetime of the technology is these applications. Electric Applications Inc (EAI) and CBI are studying the control and effects of inhibiting overcharge in lead batteries for ESS, and how overcharge control can increase the cycle life and energy throughput for all types of lead batteries. The charge control methods in this project could be utilized for any lead battery system. The future for energy storage has never been so bright, with automotive hybridization and the decarbonization of energy generation providing ample market opportunities for batteries. It is important for the industry to address not only the concerns of today, but to innovate toward the future needs of our society. CBI is driving innovation, aiming to maximize the potential of lead batteries as a sustainable, reliable, and high performing energy storage technology.

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17ELBC: PROFILE, CBI Batteries International spoke to Alistair Davidson, director of the Consortium for Battery Innovation, about the activities of the new organization and how it is starting to reach many of its founding goals.

The next era for lead battery research

Two years ago, at ELBC in Vienna, plans for a new global lead battery research hub were in their very early stages. It was clear then that if the industry were to meet the challenges and opportunities presented by decarbonization and greater electrification, not to mention the threats from competitor technologies, the focus on research and development needed to move up a gear. So, the concept of a revitalized global research hub, co-ordinating and driving forward new research opportunities and in so doing promoting the capabilities of advanced lead batteries was well received. “The time was right to boost innovation and co-ordination,” recalls CBI director Alistair Davidson. “The aim was to create an organization grounded in advanced research and committed to advancing technical performance, but with a clear focus on market demand and the future of battery energy storage. “It was important to build a partnership which would bring industry closer to universities and other research institutions. And the organization would remain, like its predecessor ALABC, a pre-competitive consortium.” After much discussion with industry partners and association members the Consortium for Battery Innovation was launched in March 2019 with Davidson as its head. Its membership has since grown to more than 100, including battery manufacturers and research institutions ranging from the Aragón Materials Science Institute (ICMA) in Zaragoza, Spain to UCLA in California. In its first year the Consortium launched its first technical roadmap, setting new targets to meet demanding performance improvement targets by 2022. This summer the Consortium launched its Battery Match service, linking utilities and other energy providers with battery manufacturers — an online tool helping specifiers

“We’re hoping to finalize some exciting projects in the coming months all of which demonstrate the practical applications and capabilities of lead batteries.” choose the best lead batteries for their particular applications and needs. It’s been a fast-moving and fastchanging environment for the CBI’s director, Davidson. “Our initial goal was to ensure the Consortium maintained its core focus on research and helping deliver better batteries. That remains pivotal for us,” he says. “It’s been hugely encouraging to welcome so many new members and partners, and to feel both the enthusiasm and support for our mission. Next generation lead batteries have a critical role to play in the energy storage solutions of the future and we’re helping to chart the path forward.” One of the barriers the CBI encounters is the lack of awareness and understanding of the technology’s capabilities. “We’ve invested in our technical expertise and our marketing to help address some of that shortfall,” he says. While he is the face of CBI, he is reliant on a small team which includes

30 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

battery specialist Matt Raiford, based in the US, and communications lead Niamh Owen-McLaughlin. The Consortium is supported by a board, whose chair, Tim Ellis, is a veteran lead battery research expert and vice chair Christian Rosenkranz, the vice-president for industry and governmental relations EMEA at Clarios. In the next 12 months the Consortium plans to continue to increase its membership and is working on new research proposals and partnerships with the US Department of Energy and in the European Union. It has close relationships with car companies across Europe and is promoting renewable energy applications supported by lead batteries with case studies included in an interactive map. At any one time the Consortium is nurturing a range of potential projects and partners, taking research to the next level and continuously challenging perceptions of lead battery capabilities and future applications. “We’re growing rapidly, and we need to maintain our focus on the outcomes we’re seeking,” says Davidson. “We’re hoping to finalize some exciting projects in the coming months all of which demonstrate the practical applications and capabilities of lead batteries.” The critical issue for policy-makers is to understand that achieving a zero carbon future will require a range of technologies and a range of battery chemistries, suited to different applications. The advantages of lead batteries includes their reliability, safety, performance and competitive price. “This is a message we keep hammering home in our discussions with users and policymakers alike,” says Davidson. “The support of our members is critical. They make the projects possible whether they are manufacturers, lead producers or university research institutes. Together they present a critical mass of expertise and they share a passion for innovation which is what makes our model work.”

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ELBC: 1988-2020

From humble beginnings to virtual must-attends

The ELBC’s peripatetic travels around Europe have provided the industry with magnificent locations as well as great events — think of palaces in Istanbul, castles in Malta and 19th century fairground museums in Paris. But mostly it has been at the heart of bringing an industry together and, as a consequence, resolving some of the toughest scientific and technical questions challenging the lead battery world. The European Lead Battery Conference has had a remarkable and often colourful history — but its importance to the development of lead batteries since the first event in Paris in 1988 cannot be underestimated.

It is equally remarkable not just for the way it has created intellectual debate when little had existed before but just how affectionately both the pioneers and seasoned attendees speak of the event.

Before the first ELBC in 1988, it was rare for technical personnel and sometimes senior management in the battery industry to attend conferences. Adversaries from other companies rarely met. Publications were discouraged and even prohibited in some companies. www.batteriesinternational.com

Clearly, they also associate the ELBC with forming long and important friendships and they have enjoyed the social side, which has sometimes been quite extraordinary; but they are also quick to praise the technical advancements that have often resulted from the meetings of minds at the event. And these have helped shape the entire global lead battery community.

Secrecy and paranoia

The ELBC also led the way in terms of helping open a forum where the lead battery industry could talk to each

Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020 • 31

ELBC: 1988-2020 The ABC acted as a catalyst for the European event’s formation, with positive feedback and a good response to the seminars prompting the LDA and key industry figures to turn Mayer’s planning into the solid reality of the European Lead Battery Conference. other. The sharing of information and ideas in such an open way has not always been encouraged by the battery sector — for a long time many companies positively protected their ideas and baulked at the idea of speaking freely on technical issues. The ELBC was a pioneering and controversial idea when it first set out to bring senior battery executives together. Before the first ELBC in 1988, it was rare for technical personnel and sometimes senior management in the battery industry to attend conferences. Adversaries from other companies rarely met. Publications were discouraged and even prohibited in some companies. That said, there were some small battery workshops and symposia that proved exceptions to this attitude, such as those held at meetings of the International Power Sources Symposium (UK), the Electrochemical Society (USA) and The Faraday Society. But these were involved in pure research, very academic and rarely attended by engineers, chemists or metallurgists from industry. This mentality was understandable in a sense. At that time, the industry was dominated by a small number of big battery companies including Exide, Varta, JCI, Chloride, GM, Delco, Tungstone, and the Swedish, French and Spanish Tudors. But in reality, the first four of these, with their worldwide subsidiaries, effectively controlled the global lead battery industry. The manufacturers were protective of their work and any research that could give them a competitive advantage. Their cautious confidentiality was

32 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

understandable since they all developed, produced and tested new materials — such as alloys, additives, separators — and new manufacturing processes extensively before using them in their products. They were seeking improved, more reliable, performance and durability. Even as the industry started to change and more third-party suppliers emerged, the battery industry retained a suspicion of sharing information and giving away trade secrets. Only a few years before the first ELBC meeting, independent supplies of separators, additives and alloys became available but most had specifications defined by the battery companies and a restriction on who they could supply. Consequently, companies were suspicious of conferences and the exchange of technical information.”

A game changer in Asia

The idea of what would eventually become the ELBC was conceived against this backdrop of secrecy by Michael Mayer, who working for the Lead Development Association (LDA) — now the ILA — was maintaining regular communication with the main battery companies through providing information and assistance where possible. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he started organizing half-day informal seminars at the LDA’s offices in Berkeley Square, London, to which he invited representatives from European battery companies. Around 40 to 50 people would attend and discuss a wide range of topics such as dry charging, wrought grids and alloys. “Held every few months they were affable and useful without confidenti-

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ELBC: 1988-2020 1988: Paris

1990: Brussels

2000: Dublin

2008: Warsaw

2014: Edinburgh

2018: Vienna

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: THE CHOICE OF VENUE Since the first ELBC in Paris, the event has visited many European cities, developed an exhibition — and a quite special gala dinner — that has gone from strength to strength. The credit for much of the work in this area goes to Maura McDermott, the conference organizer through thick and thin. “The numbers of delegates grew and there was great competition and interest in the choice of venue, which was handled by Maura and her team,” one attendee said. “Then a highly successful exhibition was organized by Allan Cooper and demand for exhibition space has grown ever since.” McDermott has been fully involved since the second ELBC in Brussels in 1990. She undertakes all the administration on the event: coordinating speakers, exhibitors — and making that tough decision each year as to where to host the event. McDermott admits that her greatest challenge every year is finding a suitable venue to host the event. While it is too small for some of the bespoke exhibition centres around Europe, designed to host thousands of delegates, it is too large for many hotels. “And we like to have a certain layout, with everything on one level,” she says. She estimates that whereas the first event in Paris attracted around 200 attendees, Brussels increased this to around 220. To put this number in context, the 16ELBC in Vienna in September 2018 set

a new record with more than 900 delegates in attendance. An important development for the ELBC was the addition of an exhibition, which has also enjoyed strong growth. She says that from around 19 booths in its first year the event has now reached more than 100 exhibitors. “In the early days it was very academic in its focus; while much of the content still is, one of the big changes has been the exhibition we now do and that has meant a lot more networking and face-to-face time for people,” she says. As more exhibitors and suppliers attended, many started hosting their own dinners and entertainment external to the event itself. With the increasing attendance, the supply companies sought local castles, palaces or well known local hostelries to entertain their customers. “It is a case of just going to see what is available in different cities in Europe. We would get lost in a venue that is too spacious,” says McDermott. “And, of course when we do find a venue, getting the right dates can be difficult. We book two to three years in advance, but even then it can be difficult to get the dates we want.” The conference did originally experiment with putting on activities for the spouses and partners of delegates — city tours and other social activities. But these were scrapped after it became apparent these individuals preferred to

organize themselves. “We did a few in the early days but there was not much take up and it became apparent that a lot of the ladies who were attending already knew each other and preferred to organize themselves,” she says. “They were used to seeing each other at events and so would be quite happy catching up and organizing themselves.”

ELBC locations through the years

1988 Paris 1990 Brussels 1992 Geneva 1994 Munich 1996 Sitges/Barcelona 1998 Prague 2000 Dublin 2002 Rome 2004 Berlin 2006 Athens 2008 Warsaw 2010 Istanbul 2012 Paris 2014 Edinburgh

the 16ELBC in Vienna in September 2018 set a new record with more than 900 delegates in attendance.

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2016 Valletta 2018 Vienna

Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020 • 33

ELBC: 1988-2020 Since those early and very heady days, the event has grown in terms of its sophistication and number of delegates. Nevertheless, its technical focus and format in many ways has remained little changed. SOLVING THE PCL PROBLEM

Some of the various Alpha-Beta members in Berlin at 9ELBC

The ELBC — or at least some of its founders and attendees — also played a pivotal role in solving one of the industry’s great challenges. At the first LABAT Conference in June 1989, Ernst Voss (Varta) and David Rand founded the AlphaBeta PbO2 Society. The object: ‘for lead battery scientists to collaborate in grappling with the ever-emerging demands that new applications place upon the science of lead batteries’. To this day, the members often meet for dinner parties at ELBC, ABC and LABAT meetings. In the 1990s, it had become clear that premature capacity loss (PCL), whereby the life of a lead battery is drastically shortened under deep cycling, was becoming a major concern for the lead battery industry and was holding back its growth. The issue proved more prevalent in designs that used grids made from antimony-free or lead-calcium alloys to reduce water loss. Moreover, it was independent of plate design or how the paste was applied. The problem occurred with both flooded batteries and then with

the new wave of VRLA technology developed in the early 1980s. Recognizing the seriousness of PCL, a number of key industry figures, all heavily associated with the ELBC and predominantly members of the Alpha-Beta Society, including Kathryn Bullock, Ian Dyson, Frank Fleming, Herbert Geiss, Michael Mayer, Eberhard Meissner, Pat Moseley, Bob Nelson, Ken Peters, David Prengaman and David Rand, formed a study group to attempt to solve this challenge. Prompted by this action the ALABC instituted the World Study Group into Premature Capacity Loss of Lead-Acid Batteries in 1993, chaired by Rand. Solving the problem was no easy task, it took many years and involved many individuals but it is now widely acknowledged that the work of the ALABC and the uninhibited ad hoc discussions at ELBC gatherings were key factors in ultimately solving this puzzle. “The final piece of the puzzle was ‘compression’. This parameter was pointed out by Alpha-Beta Society member Paul [Rüetschi] and gave us ways to defeat PCL,” Rand said.

34 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

ality being breeched or being contentious,” said one attendee. But it took another catalyst for the concept of the ELBC to truly emerge. In August 1986, the first Asian Battery Conference (1ABC) took place in Hong Kong. Industry veteran David Rand says that in May 1985, Jerry McAuliffe, director of the Zinc and Lead Asian Service, and John Manders at ZALAS (Zinc and Lead Asia Service), invited him to help in setting it up. Some 180 delegates attended the event. The ABC acted as a catalyst for the European event’s formation, with positive feedback and a good response to the seminars prompting the LDA and key industry figures to turn Mayer’s planning into the solid reality of the European Lead Battery Conference. Rand had some years earlier already met Mayer, who was promoting lead batteries at a BCI conference in Munich. He invited Rand to speak at one of the LDA events in London. They also both attended 2ABC in Singapore in August 1987. “It was there that Michael invited me to help him and Ken Peters form the first European Lead Battery Conference (1ELBC),” says Rand. “This was held in France in September 1988 and some 220 delegates attended.” The three conspirators became lifelong friends and in discussing topics and themes for discussion at ELBCs enjoyed many escapades together, especially when it involved an atmosphere of warm British ales and steam trains. On the back of the 1ELBC success, an early organizing committee of sorts started meeting to review offers for papers and consider programmes for future meetings. Some of those individuals included Ken Peters, Michael Mayer, Maura McDermott — still the conference organizer today — and industry veteran David Rand. “It was obvious from the number of offers of papers received that there was great interest in discussing common problems and experiences and, moreover, confidentiality could be maintained,” Rand says. “Some meetings later, a more formal selection committee was formed to put the programme together.” In those days, the proceedings from such events were published in the Journal of Power Sources and also distributed in book form by Pasminco Metals. This biennial practice, which continued up to 11ABC in 2005,

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ELBC: 1988-2020 THE GALA DINNER: REASONS TO GET BOISTEROUS, PARTS ELBC1 TO ELBC16 Maura McDermott, the ELBC chief organizer, is also responsible for what is arguably the highlight of the event — the closing dinner of the ELBC, which has only gained in status in the eyes of delegates over the years. She admits there is pressure to ensure the gala night is delivered to a high standard every year and that everyone enjoys it — and, of course, it is delivered within budget. “This event has very much changed over the years but we work with local companies to see what is possible. But they always seem to go well and people seem to enjoy them regardless,” she says. The gala dinner has become a focal point of the event, but it has changed drastically in its nature; in its early days, delegates were often persuaded to perform — something that many say they no longer miss! “The highlight of the week was the conference dinner when everybody let their hair down,” says one conference attendee. “For some years it was common practice for teams from countries to take part in a sing-song on the stage but these became repetitive and tedious and from about 5ELBC, professional entertainers were engaged to perform a cabaret.” One group made an impression for many years, often dressing up in ‘Australian national dress’ — a cowboy hat with dangling bottle corks to ward off the flies — to lead a sing-song. It was a difficult act to do as in reality only one of them was Australian. “One year,” he recalls, “the wives of the ELBC organizing team got involved with a group of them singing the ‘(Seven Little Girls) Sitting in the Back Seat’ with accompaniment.” Geoffrey May, director of FOCUS Consulting, says the social

events of ELBC have always been memorable — and some especially so. “In Istanbul we had a dinner on the James Bond island and sang the ‘Wheels on the Bus’ on the boat back to the mainland to the puzzlement of many non-English delegates,” May says. “In Edinburgh the Programme Committee all wore kilts, which was a spectacle — especially Boris Monahov in a kilt!” One Edinburgh delegate said: “Dave Prengaman, Mark Stevenson and Ralf Beckers looked even better

in their kilts! Mark claimed he had Scottish roots — presumably his family had been deported from there a century beforehand — and I guess Dave and Ralf just liked the look of the check pattern.” Moderation in excess And there have been times that, despite the efforts of the organizers, the events of the gala dinner have gone too far. One industry speaker recalls how events took an unfortunate turn after the gala dinner at Warsaw. “The other tables had left and then suddenly the waiters brought out enough vodka shots for all the delegates … but there were barely 40 remaining. “The result was mayhem an hour later,” he says. “But it was all good in the end. Friendships can be forged in the most ridiculous circumstances!” Another recalled a memorable night at the closing evening of 15ELBC in Malta. “It was magical. Dining outside at night. Stars above and opera singers wandering among the tables belting out the most amazing songs. It was unforgettable.”

Above top: Scotsmen of dubious ancestry 14ELBC, Edinburgh. Above: A grand entrance and a magical night dining under the stars at 15ELBC, Malta

36 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

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ELBC: 1988-2020 stopped in 2007 after the journal publisher decided that the papers were not attracting sufficient citations, especially when compared with other battery chemistries. It’s not surprising that many today would advocate a return to the status quo of yesteryear.

such an event — and started to see its increasing popularity globally. The event pioneered the way for similar conferences launched later, perhaps the most notable being the creation of LABAT in Bulgaria and the start of other conferences in India and China.

Keeping focus despite growth

Must-attend events

Since those early and very heady days, the event has grown in terms of its sophistication and number of delegates. Nevertheless, its technical focus and format in many ways has remained little changed. Demand for papers reached the point that the decision had to be made where necessary to run two sessions in parallel to enable more content and more speakers to participate, while allowing delegates to choose the topics in which they were most interested. “There was no theme as such but similar topics were grouped in the five half-day sessions and holding these in parallel, or having several halls at the same time, was contentious,” Peters said much later. “The compromise, which was very successful, was to have two sessions dedicated to the suppliers and equipment manufacturers in parallel with two sessions which mostly covered more basic research and technical work. Both were uniformly well attended.” The initial concerns of the battery manufacturers with respect to confidentiality were eventually allayed as they understood the advantages of

But the increasing attendance and willingness to present some details of their work demonstrated their popularity and opportunity for discussing common problems without revealing confidential details. ABC became an instant must-attend event, ELBC followed in its footsteps. “Programmes tended to follow industry changes and trends. Delegates welcomed the opportunity to hear about other people’s problems and successes and, hopefully, came away with helpful ideas for their work,” Peters said much later. “In this respect the concept of ABC and ELBC and the following successful series was new and created a template for industry conferences worldwide.” But these conferences were more than just a template for others. They became a hugely useful forum for the entire industry. Neil Hawkes, lead analyst at CRU, the commodity analysis firm, has attended ELBC for almost a quarter of a century — he went to the first one in 1996. He says he likes the consistency the event has maintained in terms of its structure and the real value for him

In an era where conferences are produced rather like stage shows and marketed to the audience to attract delegates and exhibitors, ELBC is organized on more traditional lines with a call for papers and only the keynote speakers are invited by the organizing committee

is securing face-to-face time with a high number of senior executives in a short space of time. “The conference hasn’t really changed in terms of its ethos and structure,” he says. “The format usually has people like me on the first morning presenting on the market more generally — the big themes of the moment — and then it goes to much more technical content after that. “But it has grown into a huge event using that formula and has become more formal by necessity as a result. In the early days, it was a more relaxed atmosphere with fewer people, now I sometimes feel like I am speed dating with the meetings there! “But the real value has always been meeting the lead producers that go there. I find it a very friendly conference from that perspective. It is very sociable compared with comparable conferences I attend.” Geoffrey May, director of FOCUS Consulting, who has only missed a couple of events since the start, says the conference’s commitment to staying true to its roots has stood it in good stead. Now, with its steady growth over the years both in numbers and stature, May believes ELBC is an unmissable event. “In an era where conferences are produced rather like stage shows and marketed to the audience to attract delegates and exhibitors, ELBC is organized on more traditional lines with a call for papers and only the keynote speakers are invited by the organizing committee,” he says. “The call for papers brings in a large number of offers of papers and the Technical Programme Committee has to sift through the offers. New research is given a high priority and the quality of the work, the reputation of the authors and the relevance to current issues is important in selecting the papers.”

Networking in Vienna 2018

38 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

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This is a redacted and reduced version of the complete abstracts which can be found with biographies on the website: 17elbc.ila-lead.org/programme/sessions/

17ELBC ABSTRACTS AUTOMOTIVE BATTERY ADVANCEMENTS Improved test methods for European tandards to judge water consumption and corrosion effects of lead batteries in modern applications Torsten Hildebrandt, (Clarios EMEA, Secretary CENELEC TC 21X, Germany) and Jörn Albers, (Clarios EMEA, Germany)

European Standard EN 503426, published in 2015, defines test procedures and requirements for lead-acid batteries in start-stop applications. This document has been widely accepted and an international standardization project of IEC TC21 took over the well-established procedures of dynamic charge-acceptance (DCA) and Micro cycling performance (MHT) for the new document IEC 60095-6. As there has been further changes in the usage of advanced leadacid batteries in modern vehicle architectures in recent years, further improvements and validation of test procedures and requirements are required to reflect this development. Based on three scientific workshops with participants from the vehicle and battery industries, universities and suppliers, members of the technical committee 21X of European Standardization body CENELEC continued to work on these questions and developed the following proposals for new and improved test procedures.

These are the new proposed areas: • New Micro Hybrid Test procedure (New MHT). An improved version of the micro cycling test to simulate start-stop applications has been developed. The main differences are an increased test temperature of 40°C, shortened rest times and a greater total number of cycles to reflect real-life battery duty in regard of charge throughput and operating conditions. • New Key Life Test (nKLT). A test procedure at 75°C that simulates drive cycles including start-stop and recuperation with limited overcharge to judge water consumption and corrosion effects. The target is to judge even ‘highDCA’ batteries in a fair way that otherwise usually shows poor results in classical water consumption overcharge tests. • Dynamic charge acceptance, Improvements continue to go on to simplify the current test procedure for easier implementation and higher robustness in the test laboratories. First draft versions of these procedures are available and validation testing with different battery types of different manufacturers has commenced. The new test procedures with their details and evaluation schemes will be presented as well as the first results of validation testing. The timeline to implement the new approaches into a next version of CENELEC EN 503426 will be discussed. Improvements of the flooded-type Ultrabattery for short distance collection and delivery truck as a low voltage hybrid application

Torsten Hidebrandt, Clarios EMEA

LHVs require the battery not only to provide additional energy to the on-board electronic devices during idling-stop and power for starting the engine, but also to accept power from regenerative braking. requirements is low-voltage hybrids which are provided iwith dling-stop and regenerative braking features. LHVs require the battery not only to provide additional energy to the on-board electronic devices during idling-stop and power for starting the engine, but also to accept power from regenerative braking. Thus, the factors which could hold back the widespread of LHVs are the performance and cost of the energy storage device. As shown in this presentation, the UltraBattery — a combined lead-acid and supercapacitor hybrid energy-storage device — promises excellent performance for short-distance collection and delivery trucks operating as LHVs. The improvements are: (i) a positive active-material of higher density to increase the durability and (ii) a change in the conductive carbon in the negative electrode to improve the charge-acceptance. An in-vehicle durability test of the new UltraBattery technology is underway. To date, the battery life has more than doubled — and even expected to treble — that of the conventional battery. The life-extension effect and mechanism of new positive additives will also be discussed.

Hiroya Kaido, Jun Furukawa, Tokunori Honma and Satoshi Shibata (Furukawa Battery Co, Hoshikawa, Japan)

Development of a new hightemperature durability test for automotive lead batteries

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel consumption from the transport sector is a major problem for governments worldwide. In Europe, for example, various governments demand automakers to decrease CO2 emissions from the current value of about 140g for every 1km driven to 95g by 2020 and this is expected to decrease further to 75g km-1 by 2025. One of the solutions to meet these

Jonathan Wirth (RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany)

40 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

This presentation is based on recent studies that have shown little to no correlation between established steadystate water consumption tests and dynamic driving cycle tests which both aim to reproduce real-word urban and highway driving in hot climate. This observation is of high impor-

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This is a redacted and reduced version of the complete abstracts which can be found with biographies on the website: 17elbc.ila-lead.org/programme/sessions/

17ELBC ABSTRACTS AUTOMOTIVE BATTERY ADVANCEMENTS tance in the context of increasing the dynamic charge-acceptance through adding extra amounts of carbon additives in innovative designs of the negative plate. This practice often results in increased water consumption in established steady-state overcharging tests, but not necessarily in simulated driving. Therefore, in cooperation with the CENELEC TC21X WG3 that is now under evaluation, a new key life test candidate has been developed using data from the abovementioned studies. The results of simulated real-world urban and highway driving in hot climate will be compared with those of steady-state overcharging tests. The validity of the new key life test for water loss and corrosion testing will be demonstrated in respect to established steady-state overcharging tests and the simulated real-world driving. Test results will include both gas and weight-loss measurements. Finally, the test bench results will be validated with weight-loss and gassing measurements taken in field on two different types of battery. Lead batteries for dash cam applications: experiences and lab test development Joern Albers and Ingo Koch (Clarios Germany GmbH & Co. KGaA, Hanover, Germany) and Young Kug Lee, Jong Dae Kim, Jae Eun Jin and KiSun Ryu (Hyundai Motor Company, Seoul, South Korea)

In some countries, dash cams in passenger cars are becoming more and more popular to record possible damages or bumps to the cars. Some insurance companies even grant discounts on their premiums for cars equipped with dash cams. Nevertheless, such devices require a significant portion of electrical power at a time when the car is not being operated. As the automotive lead-acid starter battery is the only power source available in the vehicle during stand-still, the dash cam’s energy demand may result in severe deterioration of the battery. In some cases, even the enginecranking capability is compromised. The presentation provides field data analyses of two test vehicles as well as

the development of battery laboratory tests, which reflect the dash cam operation in Hyundai and Kia cars. The results clearly indicate that not all lead-acid battery technologies are able to withstand the additional load generated by the dash cam. Batteries using AGM technology have proved to be best suited for the avoidance of detrimental effects and to ensure full functionality during battery lifetime. ArcActive’s novel carbon fibre structured negative electrode for high DCA and low water consumption. An update on performance and manufacturing developments Stuart McKenzie, Shane Christie, Hassan Wong and Richard Trudgian (Arc Active, Christchurch, New Zealand)

ArcActive has been developing a novel carbon fibre based negative electrode for the past nine years. The key attraction is that batteries using this technology achieve high and sustained DCA with the added advantage of very low consumption of water. ArcActive batteries also display similar performance to traditional batteries on other standard tests of automotive batteries — there are no technical ‘red flags’. The technology is now approaching the market-entry phase. This presen-

Stuart McKenzie, Arc Active

42 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

tation will review the technology in terms of the performance levels and manufacturing processes that have been developed to achieve high-volume manufacturing throughput. Development of battery model for automotive simulation — with less prior data for more practical simulations Sato Katsuyuki, Muhammad Syahid, Masashi Watanabe, Taisuke Takeuchi and Takao Ohmae (GS Yuasa International Ltd., Kyoto, Japan)

The evolution of mobility through the pursuit of high safety, low environmental impact, high comfort, etc., is supported by the innovation of advanced control technology. Modelbased development is an effective method for more comprehensive and rapid verification of the complicated control technology. In particular, a highly reliable battery model is essential for the development of the automotive control system. An equivalent-circuit model for the leadacid battery that can simulate the charge and discharge behaviour of a battery has been disclosed by JSAE (Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, Inc.). This model, however, only contains parameters obtained from limited battery behaviour and consequently sufficient accuracy cannot be obtained as dictated by the simulation conditions. In a previous study based on the battery model proposed by JSAE, an attempt was made to improve the accuracy by focusing on the following two characteristics of the battery: (i) the behaviour of current and voltage immediately after charge and discharge; (ii) the changes of polarization as the battery approaches full charge or discharge. The results confirmed a significant improvement in accuracy. For the further development of the model, several original tests were required. Therefore, this presentation describes simplifying the development process by replacing part of the original test conditions with standard tests as published in JIS, European (EN) standard, etc. It has been confirmed that the newly developed model has excellent estimation accuracy compared with the conventional JSAE model.

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This is a redacted and reduced version of the complete abstracts which can be found with biographies on the website: 17elbc.ila-lead.org/programme/sessions/

17ELBC ABSTRACTS CARBON ADDITIVES FOR AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS MOLECULAR REBAR Solutions for Enhanced Performance and Corrosion Resistance Paul Everill (Black Diamond Structures, LLC, USA)

MOLECULAR REBAR enhances the electrical and mechanical performance of your battery by strengthening and controlling crystal structure to change the “DNA” of your active material. These enhancements allow customers to achieve their testing goals, introduce higher-tier products, lower warranty returns, reduce active material masses, and gain new aftermarket/ OEM/OES business. Our discussion will provide updates on our present product portfolio with independent testimonials from our customers to support our technical data. We will also share the latest developments from our product development pipelines with support from our development partners. Automotive applications, such as Enhanced Flooded Batteries (EFB), will be one of the focal points of our discussion. We will show evidence that our Pb1200 series of products in combination with our PbAC series can support battery manufacturers as they strive to transcend the goals of the updated EN-50342-6 testing specifications and achieve the Consortium for Battery Innovation key performance

Paul Everill, Black Diamond Structures

indicators. Dynamic Charge Acceptance, micro-hybrid cycle life, and corrosion-centric studies will be shared. Aspects regarding the mechanism by which our performance additives provide their benefits in the positive and negative active masses will also be shared. Progress towards high DCA lead batteries with formulated carbon blends Paolina Atanassova, Yu-Hua Kao, David Miller, Clayton Summit, Aurelien Du Pasquier, Persefoni Kechagia (Cabot Corporation, Billerica, MA, United States)

In the drive towards reduced CO2 emissions, lead-acid batteries with enhanced dynamic charge acceptance are essential to meet regulation requirements. Incorporation of carbon additives into the negative active mass has been demonstrated to increase the DCA and cycle life by two-to-three times under high-rate state-of-charge (HRPSoC) conditions. To enable next-generation batteries with DCA of 1.5/Ah-2.0/Ah, formulated blends of carbon additives with different morphology have been explored. A hypothesis on the structure-performance relationship between carbon type and DCA improvements has been developed and tested at the cell

Paolina Atanassova, Cabot Coporation

44 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

level under various service conditions. Further refinement of a model of the role of carbons in the negative-active mass will be presented. Chemically-modified carbon additives for increased dynamic charge acceptance in lead based batteries Begüm Bozkaya, Jochen Settelein, Guinevere Giffin and Gerhard Sextl (Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC, Wurzburg, Germany)

Previous studies have shown that the inclusion of carbon as an additive in the negative active-material can improve the electrochemical performance of lead-acid batteries, especially under the critical application of high-rate partial-state-of-charge cycling. Besides the beneficial effects of carbon, its incorporation in the NAM can enhance the hydrogen evolution reaction at the negative electrode during charging which, in turn, can lead to enhanced water consumption that may shorten the lifetime of the battery. To date, the key chemical and physical properties of carbon that are necessary to enhance the performance of lead-acid batteries without increasing the water consumption remain unknown. For further optimization, the effect of different carbon parameters on the electrochemical activity needs to be

Begüm Bozkaya, Fraunhofer

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This is a redacted and reduced version of the complete abstracts which can be found with biographies on the website: 17elbc.ila-lead.org/programme/sessions/

17ELBC ABSTRACTS CARBON ADDITIVES FOR AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS studied in detail to find and explain possible correlations between various carbon properties and the performance of lead-carbon electrodes. From other electrochemical applications such as supercapacitors, surface chemistry is recognized to be one of the important parameters that determine the electrochemical activity of carbon and therefore should be considered in lead-acid batteries as well. This presentation examines the influence of surface functional groups by doping the carbon materials with different heteroatoms such as nitrogen and oxygen. The research shows that the DCA of batteries, as well as the HER activity of the negative plate, is strongly influenced by the pH of the carbon additives.

In order to obtain a better understanding, a comprehensive study that includes materials analysis, electrochemical analysis and battery tests will be reported. Functional carbon additives for advanced lead based batteries Pascual García Pérez, Flavio Mornaghini, Yiseop Ahn and Dario Cericola (Imerys Graphite & Carbon, Bodio, Switzerland)

The addition of carbon additives can improve the charge-acceptance at high-rate partial-state-of-charge cycling as well as the cycling performance of lead-acid batteries. Attempts are being made to understand the specific properties of the

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46 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

Pascual García Pérez, Imerys Graphite & Carbon

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This is a redacted and reduced version of the complete abstracts which can be found with biographies on the website: 17elbc.ila-lead.org/programme/sessions/

17ELBC ABSTRACTS FUNDAMENTAL SCIENCE I The role of lug preheating, melt pool temperature and lug entrance delay in the cast-onstrap joining process for leadacid batteries Aliasghar Alagheband Hosseini, Sohrab Pahlavan, Saman Nikpour, Mostafa Mirjalili, Mohamadyousef Azimi, and Iman Taji — Sarv sanat toos (SST), Iran

This presentation examines the caston-strap (COS) process by which grid lugs of a lead-acid battery are joined together by a strap. To investigate the quality of the joint, several parameters were used to provide good comparison between the procedures investigated. The parameters and their method of measurement are explained, for example, the relative contact length between the lugs and the strap (RCL) and the length of existing voids at the lug-strap interfaces that is subtracted from the determined contact length. The individual influence of preheating the lug, melt pool temperature and lug entrance delay on the quality of the joints and casting defects was investigated. Lug preheating was found to be advantageous in reducing internal voids in the joints. The melt pool temperature gave a two-sided effect that depended on the process conditions. Raising the temperature increased the strap melt fluidity and improved the joint contact area, by had a deleterious effect on lug wettability by promoting flux evaporation. Moreover, higher temperatures caused more lug backmelting and, hence, lower relative contact lengths. Consequently, an intermediate temperature of 683 K (410 °C) was found to provide the most favourable condition. The best joint quality was obtained when the lugs entered the mold coincident with melt.

lowering of CO2 emissions of new vehicles. Meanwhile, new electric functions to increase safety and comfort are also supplemented. These trends impose an ever-increasing performance from energy-storage devices with respect to reliability, energy throughput (shallow-cycle life), dynamic charge acceptance particularly for regenerative braking, and robust service life in sustained partial state-of-charge operation. Various investigations have shown that several innovative negative electrode technologies, such as carbon additives in the negative active material, enable up to three times higher stabilized DCA after several months of operation. This presentation reports the investigation of two types of battery, as well as cells with different layouts, that have DCA improving additives in the negative electrode (EFB+C). After a longterm run-in, the charge-acceptance is tested under European Standards and a single-pulse test. Furthermore, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), which is widely employed as a standard characterization technique for materials, applications and processes, is used as characterization tool to identify non-linear processes. The EIS can be used for generating an equivalent circuit model of the negative half-cell. An outline will be given of the correlation between DCA results of different testing methods and the parametrization of the impedance spectra.

Dynamic charge acceptance and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy — comparability, influence of cell design and carbon additives Sophia Matthies and Julia Kowal (Technische Universität Berlin, Germany)

The car industry is confronted with a strong demand for continuous improvement in fuel economy and a

Sophia Matthies, Technische Universität Berlin

48 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

Interaction of main reactions and side reactions at positive and negative electrodes — a view at PSoC operation comprising shallow cycling, dynamic transients, and stand periods Eberhard Meissner (Eberhard Meissner Battery Specialist, Hanover, Germany)

In many Stationary and Automotive applications, lead-acid batteries undergo shallow cycling in partial stateof-charge duty. Periods of discharge and recharge may be undertaken at regular intervals or at random and are often interrupted by dynamic transients and/or stand periods. Full state-of-charge (SoC) is rarely or ever reached. At partial state-of-charge, both charged and discharged active materials are present. As both electrodes undergo dissolution-precipitation main reactions, the shapes and sizes of the composite particles, ie, the actual morphologies of the electrodes at the micro-level, are ‘inherited’ from the previous operating conditions. The mechanisms of main and side reactions are different at both electrode polarities, with different kinetics and different time constants. Therefore, both half-cell potentials scarcely ever reach even quasi-equilibrated states. Consequently, at any time — even during stand periods — the electrodes’ morphologies are changing. Such activity causes the electrical behaviour of the cell to be complex, and formal state-of-charge is insufficient to describe cell status. In the presentation, the interaction of main and side reactions will be elucidated as processes taking place at the micro-level at electrodes with and without external electrical current flow. The dependency of main reaction kinetics on micro-structural changes will also be analysed. Experimental data from electrical transients and dynamic charge-acceptance are interpreted in terms of mathematical models of micro-structures. This approach may define key experiments for the optimization of lead-acid battery performance in PSoC operation.

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17ELBC ABSTRACTS PRESENTATION FOCUS

George Brilmyer and David Mihara from Microporous discuss the role of separator design in boosting battery performance.

Better EFB separator design for partial state of charge cycling Start/Stop automotive systems are being marketed as a simple method to improve fuel economy. What is not generally publicized are the deleterious effects that this type of vehicle operation has on the life and performance of the conventional Pb battery. Therefore an improved battery design has been introduced by the industry known as the Enhanced Flooded Battery. Through a number of improvements over standard flooded batteries such as compression and modified expander packages, the EFB is designed to better handle partial state of charge operation. Nonetheless,

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

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relative to its more expensive cousin, AGM, the EFB battery still has its limitations. One of these limitations is “acid stratification”. This is the formation of layers of differing acid concentration in the cell as a result of constant undercharging. Though difficult to control and minimize, acid stratification, when uncontrolled will accelerate battery failure. This paper will describe efforts to utilize the battery separator to mitigate this phenomena through the novel use of scrims and rib designs. As a battery separator manufacturer, Microporous has studied the effect of separator design on acid stratification when subjected to the EN-50342 Endurance Test at 17.5% depth of discharge test. Figure 1 shows how the spacing or “pitch” of the ribs of a conventional polyethylene battery separator may (or may not) effect acid stratification in both a static battery or one that is being subjected to a continuous slow (1 Hz) rocking motion (+/- 13 degrees), while cycling with the 17.5% DoD endurance test. All tests below were done using a flooded SLI battery design. After only 20 test cycles (~24 hours) the 17.5% DoD test typically is found to create approximately “75 points” of acid stratification in the static mode. Note, that compared to AGM (4mm thick AGM was our benchmark in this flooded battery design), that the separator rib pitch does very little to alter the course of the

acid. Static or Rocking tests show no significant improvement. In a similar but different set of experiments, we developed a method to quickly compare the effect of different rib designs in the static and rocking test. In Figure 2 are some of our unconventional rib designs that were 3D printed using polypropylene filament on to a flat sheet of polyethylene separator. Surprisingly, the different ribs and unique shapes did very little to affect the stratification of the acid. We have not found the right combination of rib design and pitch but we did not give up. Research has since moved on to exploring the effect of scrims and mattes. In this series of tests shown in Figure 3 we show some impressive results that were obtained using a type of AGM pasting paper (thickness ~0.3mm). First we determined that when employing AGM pasting paper on a ribbed separator this combination had minimal effect on acid stratification. Then we determined that the best response was found when the AGM scrim was used in conjunction with a non-ribbed sheet of PE separator material. The effect was dramatic! Also notice that applying the AGM to both the positive and negative plates were not significantly better than when used only on the positive plate! This was not unexpected because the positive produces 2X the acid of the negative during charging. In our ELBC conference presentation we plan to present similar data on new and varied combinations of non-ribbed separator sheet in combination with other scrims. Our ultimate intent is to offer the battery manufacturer a hybrid separator product for EFB that produces AGM-like performance, but that can be assembled on conventional SLI separator stacker enveloping equipment.

Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020 • 49

This is a redacted and reduced version of the complete abstracts which can be found with biographies on the website: 17elbc.ila-lead.org/programme/sessions/

FUNDAMENTAL SCIENCE I

This is a redacted and reduced version of the complete abstracts which can be found with biographies on the website: 17elbc.ila-lead.org/programme/sessions/

17ELBC ABSTRACTS FUNDAMENTAL SCIENCE I Maintaining effectiveness of start stop battery performance in extended life duration Yildirim Eydemir, Hulki Buyukkalender and Ilter Gursoy (Abdulkadir Özcan Otomotiv Lastik San. ve Tic. AS. (AKO BATTERY), Ankara, Turkey)

Lead batteries are used in start stop and hybrid automotive applications to provide CO2 savings and economic benefits to our society. However, start-stop function is commonly compromised by low DCA and the formation of lead sulfate morphologies that inhibit proper dissolution and regeneration of the active material during recharge. We aim to improve the start stop function in lead batteries by studying different additives in the active material in conjunction with special curing conditions (in curing chamber and continuous curing tunnel with different treatments) to

We aim to improve the start stop function in lead batteries by studying different additives in the active material in conjunction with special curing conditions to obtain an optimal morphological structure.

obtain an optimal morphological structure. Different active materials were prepared with the same additives and different tetrabasic lead sulphate sizes and were studied in two different curing techniques; curing chamber and continuous curing tunnel (Kaizen Tunnel, named by us). Plate samples were examined with scanning electron microscopy(SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Sample batteries were then produced using these plates and were tested and compared according to EN 50342-1 and EN 50342-6 standards. The Kaizen tunnel curing technique involves a five stage curing process (first stage, flashing; second stage, high temperature curing; third stage, resting; fourth stage, normal curing; fifth stage, resting) with a final drying step. The standard curing chamber technique utilized a two stage curing (first stage, high temperature curing; second stage, normal curing stage) and a final drying step. Best performance was obtained from samples from the six stage curing process (Kaizen tunnel) with moderate tetrabasic lead sulphate sizes observed. However, in this study, dynamic charge acceptance still stands as a challenge to improve. Latest works on the Properzi wheel and belt caster and rolling mill to produce wide lead strip for punched grids

This paper will describe the advantages of the Properzi battery equipment resulting in: higher quality and lower tolerance lead strip, higher efficiency equipment and a wider range of capacities elements of the improvements for casting and rolling equipment. A high efficiency furnace is used in tandem with the newly designed user-friendly wheel and belt casting machine. Furthermore, dross-free casting has been implemented allowing for laminar flow. The entire rolling stand and calibration methods have been redesigned to maximize production flexibility and upper roll precision during use. These developments are complemented by automatic calibration of the base using laser gauges. The automation system implemented in this design are ready for Industry 4.0. Furthermore, this paper will describe how the design difficulties have been overcome and the advantages of the Properzi battery equipment resulting in: higher quality and lower tolerance lead strip, higher efficiency equipment (proven OEE > 93%), a wider range of capacities.

Gabriele Salvatore Muscarnera (Continuus-Properzi Spa Sordio, Italy)

Yildirim Eydemir, AKO BATTERY

Properzi has been in the battery industry since that late 1970s, initially producing expanded lead metal strip lines for SLI batteries. The introduction of wide punched grids format with full frame, a substantial innovation enabling the low cost superior alternative component for deep cycle battery applications and UPS, led Properzi to develop innovative solutions for the wide strip casters and rolling mill. This paper, will cover these innovations discussing several

50 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

Gabriele Salvatore Muscarnera, Continuus-Properzi Spa Sordio

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This is a redacted and reduced version of the complete abstracts which can be found with biographies on the website: 17elbc.ila-lead.org/programme/sessions/

17ELBC ABSTRACTS LEAD BATTERIES IN ENERGY STORAGE APPLICATIONS Benchmark of the cycling performance of high purity Pb in a wind farm cycle Travis Hesterberg, Tim Ellis, Pietro Papa Lopez, Timothy Fister (RSR Technologies, Dallas, TX USA)

The lead-acid battery industry suffers from a paucity of comparative data on the influence of trace elements in the lead selected for oxide production. In this study, four grades of high-purity lead were tested against a simple wind farm cycle, namely: LME Grade, SUPERSOFT-ULTRA, electrolytic and zone refined. The impurity profiles of these materials allow for the investigation of low levels of trace elements on performance. In situ XRD and ICPMS are employed to resolve chemical state and trace element dynamics during charge-discharge, while ex situ imaging methods such as SEM provide images of PbSO4 and how the morphology is influenced by lead purity. Graphite/Carbon materials used in the lead-carbon battery for energy storage applications Joseph Li, Francois Henry and Carsten Wehling (Superior Graphite, Chicago, IL, USA)

Lead-acid batteries are used for

Travis Hesterberg, RSR Technologies

energy storage in a variety of gridconnected and remote power supply systems. Advancement in the battery technology for industrial applications has not progressed to the same degree as that for automotive service, but over time VRLA batteries have consolidated their position for standby duty. There are important new opportunities for industrial batteries for utility energy storage in association with renewables and grid services. These require longer cycle life under conditions that put the battery under greater stress, and improvements in this sector will substantially benefit industrial batteries. This presentation will discuss the use of graphite/carbon materials in a lead-carbon battery as well as their applications in energy storage. Assessing UltraBattery strings for state of health using electrochemical techniques Michael Glenn, Lawrence Chan, Ian Wilson, Brian McKean and Scott Donne (Ecoult, Sydney, Australia)

Lead-acid batteries employed to store renewable energy must be usable in a partial state-of-charge (PSoC) to maximise their utility. This practice, however, leads to quasireversible electrolyte precipitation on the negative electrode. Described as

Joseph Li, Superior Graphite

52 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

‘sulfation’, it is the main failure mode. Hence, assessment of the state-ofsulfation (SoS) is critical to extending the life of battery strings, which are limited by the most heavily sulfated cell. The SoS can be determined in several ways, namely: teardown analysis, settled open-circuit voltage, capacity testing or measuring the electrolyte density. These tests do not, however, permit a quick analysis and are either invasive or harmful to the battery. Alternatively, several studies have demonstrated that electrochemical impedance spectroscopy can assess the SoS in lead acid batteries. This technique involves measuring an impedance response using an excitation signal which, in turn, is fitted to an equivalent circuit. Step potential electrochemical spectroscopy (SPECS) has also been used to investigate electrolyte precipitation. The approach involves stepping the potential in small increments and fitting curves to the decaying current to differentiate current contributions; ie, double-layer capacitance and Faradaic processes. This study employs EIS and SPECS to produce a sulfation metric for UltraBattery strings undergoing a PSoC schedule applicable to service in the field. The information gained can be used as part of a battery management system to predict battery life and

Michael Glenn, Ecoult

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This is a redacted and reduced version of the complete abstracts which can be found with biographies on the website: 17elbc.ila-lead.org/programme/sessions/

17ELBC ABSTRACTS LEAD BATTERIES IN ENERGY STORAGE APPLICATIONS advise appropriate action, for example, limit depth-of-discharge, overcharge trigger, or replacement of a sulfated battery. The design and testing of a hybrid electric boat powered from VRLA batteries Joseph Cilia, Eryl Vella, Neville Azzopardi, Diane Cassar (University of Malta and Abertax Technologies, Malta)

Many European countries are currently placing a greater focus on the use of renewable energy sources (RES) and electric transport, particularly in view of the EU 2020 targets. The increasing uptake of RES needs to be complemented by a greater use of motive battery applications and battery energy-storage systems that will provide significant advantages to grid operators at the different levels of the electrical system. Small watercraft create both noise and air pollution. In the interest of environmental protection, a large number of small and medium-size boats can be easily powered by an electric drive. Some boats also have design-integrated solar panels which can support the batteries during daytime. One of the concerns — especially in open seas — is the possibility of running out of charge. To address this problem, this presentation reports the integration of a micro combined heat and power (micro-CHP) system that will provide both the charging of the batteries and heating /cooling of the boat cabin. The hybrid electric system will allow operation of the boat with and without the battery to ensure safety when out to sea. Invariably, these boats are idle for most of the time — especially during the winter season — and therefore the batteries are heavily underutilised and can be easily integrated with the utility grid to augment the decentralised energystorage capacity. An electric-powered catamaran has been built and tested. A 4kW electric motor is used for propulsion and can be powered from one of the two 200Ah VRLA battery banks installed. These have proved to be sufficient for the required catamaran performance.

Advanced lead battery management for low-TCO stationary storage systems Francesco Amoroso and Gregorio Cappuccino (CalBatt, Rende, Italy) (tbc)

The introduction of stationary energystorage systems is forecast to have a rapid growth in the support of both the diffusion of renewable energy technology and the implementation of ancillary services for distribution grids. In this scenario, battery chargedischarge efficiency is a key factor to implement storage systems that are characterized by a low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and thus viable for end-users and utilities. Lithiumion technology is often considered as the natural choice to increase battery efficiency. Nevertheless, with intelligent management, lead-acid batteries can become a very competitive solution to the implementation of high-efficiency storage systems. This

Traditional energy management leads to roundtrip efficiencies of around 70%, this smart management approach can achieve 80% roundtrip efficiency

Francesco Amoroso, CalBatt

54 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

presentation will describe innovative energy management to optimize the roundtrip efficiency of lead-acid batteries used for stationary storage. The approach is based on an intelligent technology for the dynamic characterization of the acceptance and the efficiency characteristics of the battery in both charge and discharge phases to set in real-time the most suitable charge/discharge current to achieve efficiency maximization. The successful outcome will be proven by results obtained for a commercial 8.9kWh lead-acid energy storage system coupled to a photovoltaic system. Whereas traditional energy management leads to roundtrip efficiencies of around 70%, the smart management approach can achieve 80% roundtrip efficiency, thus unlocking the full potential of leadacid batteries for the implementation of low-TCO stationary energy. Energy storage as an enabler of the energy transition: opportunities for battery storage Patrick Clerens, (European Association for the Storage of Energy, Belgium)

Batteries provide, to a wide range of actors, a wide range of services. In recognition of the growing significance of energy storage and batteries, the European Union has been launching a number of initiatives that will encourage performance in this sector. Some examples are the EU Battery Alliance, Batteries Europe, and Battery 2030+. It is hoped that these programs will make Europe a world leader in batteries, in terms of both innovation and industry. Furthermore, in the context of the European Green Deal and the Recovery Plan, much is expected to change regarding policies and regulation, with investments on the rise. In other words: count on significant transformations in the battery sector in the next few years. This paper will outline the future opportunism for batteries in general in the energy storage sector, and discuss the role that lead batteries can play in this transition.

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Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020 • 55

This is a redacted and reduced version of the complete abstracts which can be found with biographies on the website: 17elbc.ila-lead.org/programme/sessions/

17ELBC ABSTRACTS FUNDAMENTAL SCIENCE II A model for oxygen evolution impact on the top-of-charge behaviour of the lead-acid positive electrode Brian McKeon, Michael Glenn and Ian Wilson (Ecoult Energy Storage Solution, Sydney, Australia) and Ralph Fegely (East Penn Manufacturing, Lyons, PA, USA)

Whereas characterisation of the primary reactions of the positive electrode of lead-acid batteries has been extensively studied, the region towards top-of-charge has been neglected as it is significantly complicated by interactions with secondary reactions. Nevertheless, it is crucial to understand this region of operation as it is a major factor in the selection of charge current profiles to charge efficiently both positive and negative electrodes and thereby manage cell longevity. The present study describes a model based on the premise that oxygen evolution causes a restriction of electrolyte pathways to the positive electrode active interface. This restriction is proposed to be occurring mainly at the micropore level and leads to an effective decrease in the active electrode area that, in turn, delivers an impact on both the electrochemical reactions and the double-layer capacitance. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) has been used to determine the change in capacitance of the positive electrode during charge. This feature is seen as a proxy for the change in the effective active area of the electrode. Reference electrode measurements during different charge profiles indicate the contribution of the positive electrode.

responsible for battery damage, high manufacturing costs and poor battery performance that cost individual factories hundreds of thousands of euros a year. After a two-year programme that involved detailed chemical analysis of used formation connectors, UK Powertech, Digatron and ESPL have identified a unique corrosion layer on the connector head surface as the cause of high resistance. Using Digatron formation equipment, ergonomic simulation tests, analytical laboratories and factory trials with major international companies, new formation practices and a new connector design have been developed to eliminate the corrosion problem. The results from one factory alone, over one year, returned real energy savings of $300,000. Reduced scrap and less formation time will double this sum. Current factory trials over four international sites show the new connector design and working practices are already giving consistent, substantial cost benefits. The team are now developing efficient formation algorithms to reduce kWh, heat, water and time losses. Total estimated savings from current

UK Powertech, Digatron and ESPL have identified a unique corrosion layer on the connector head surface as the cause of high resistance.

factory trials are $200,000 per million batteries produced. Growth mechanisms of nanoto micron-sized lead sulfate particles Michael Wall, Jesse Smith, Matthew Carl, Marcus L Young (University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United States) and Travis Hesterberg and Tim Ellis (RSR Technologies, Dallas, TX, United States)

Lead sulfate, a key component in the operation of lead-acid batteries, is a poor conductor that forms on the positive and negative electrodes during discharging and dissolves during charging. Over time, there is a buildup of lead sulfate on the electrodes that reduces the efficiency of the battery. This study aims to determine the nucleation and growth mechanisms of lead sulfate nanoparticles. The time dependence of particle morphology has been observed using various reaction conditions. The particles were created using premixed solutions at various times of reaction. Ethanol, acetone, methanol, or isopropanol was used to ‘freeze’ the development of the particles. The structure of the nanoparticles was characterized via transmission electron microscopy, high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy, and selected area electron diffraction. The results have provided an insight into the mechanism by which lead sulfate forms.

New formation connector design and new working practices dramatically reduce costs for lead battery manufacturers Mike McDonagh (Ecotech Energy Solutions Ltd, Monmouthshire, United Kingdom) and Mark Rigby (UK Powertech, Lancashire, United Kingdom)

Current shop-floor practices in formation and standard connector designs for lead-acid batteries can be

Mike McDonagh, Ecotech Energy Solutions

56 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

Michael Wall, University of North Texas

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This is a redacted and reduced version of the complete abstracts which can be found with biographies on the website: 17elbc.ila-lead.org/programme/sessions/

17ELBC ABSTRACTS FUNDAMENTAL SCIENCE II Battery separators — oxidation pathways and thermomechanical properties Richard W Pekala, Robert Waterhouse, Chi La, Kaylee Duchateau, Cory Rogers, Wyatt Self, Eric Hostetler and Weston Wood (Entek International LLC, United States) and Joe Moore and Bartosz Szumielewicz (Entek International, Newcastleupon-Tyne, United Kingdom)

Lead-acid battery separators are traditionally manufactured from the extrusion and extraction of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene/silica/ oil mixtures to form microporous ribbed sheets. The separator morphology and pore structure are determined by: (i) the phase separation of the oil and polymer during the calendaring process, and (ii)) the capillary forces associated with evaporation of the extraction solvent. Silica aggregates distributed throughout the separator help to promote wettability of the pore structure and thereby impact electrical (ionic) resistance, but it is the organic matrix, which consists of the UHMWPE polymer and residual oil, that is responsible for oxidation resistance and mechanical properties. This presentation investigates changes in the amount and composition of the oil when undergoing various chemical and electrochemical oxidation tests to gain a better

understanding of how to protect the polymer from chain scission or crosslinking. Finally, thermomechanical analysis has been used for closer examination of the changes in mechanical properties as a function of the degree of oxidation. Effect of graphene oxide for the inhibition of sulfation on lead carbon interfaces Shu-Huei Hsieh, Kai-Yi Song (National Formosa University, Huwei Taiwan) and Yi-Ren Tzeng, (Institute of Nuclear Energy Research, Taiwan)

This presentation reports a low-cost method to form a lead graphene oxide (GO) interface to inhibit the sulfation of lead-acid batteries. The lead-GO interfaces are formed by applying GO solutions on lead surfaces that are pre-decorated with a layer of lead nitrate. Scanning electronic images of samples were taken after 400 cycles of electrochemical cyclic voltammetry (CV) tests. It was found that the size of lead sulfate particles formed on the GO-coated lead plates was in the range of 200nm to 500nm, whereas particles on lead plates were larger, namely, in the range of 2μm to 5μm. Polyethylene separators in enhanced flooded batterises — Quo Vadis? Jörg Deiters (Daramic, France)

Daramic initiated various internal projects to support the targets of DCA and durability by improved PE separators for EFB batteries. This presentation will describe how a DCA of 1.7 A/Ah and a PSoC cycling of > 2.000 cycles might be achieved under control of water loss below 3 g/Ah. 2 V cell testing and battery test results will be reported with PE separators having innovative profile designs, formulas and additives.

Richard Pekala, ENTEK

For full details of this presentation see earlier pages on Daramic in this supplement

58 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

Examination of the effects of surfactants on crystal growth and curing of the positive active material Marco Robotti, Thomas Wojcinski, Enqin Gao, Maureen Murphy, Stephanie Luken, Marvin Ho and Steven Barnes (Hammond Group Inc, Hammond, Indiana, USA)

Lead acid battery manufacturers are aware of the importance of 4BS crystal size to increase the cycle-life in startstop vehicle applications. It is fundamental to know the influence of any treatment on 4BS so that it has the correct crystal size for the final application. Surfactants are generally used to prevent coagulation of sub-micrometric particles; these products are also used in the battery industry during the 4BS nucleation process. Nowadays, the impact of dispersant products on the 4BS manufacturing process and crystal growth is unknown and, therefore, redressing the situation is the focus of this presentation. After an initial literature search, viable materials have been selected as the dispersants. Surfactants, lead oxide and 4BS raw materials have been characterized and benchtop trials have been conducted to synthesise and characterize (SEM, XRD, TGA, BET, PSA) 4BS with applied coatings of the dispersants. A. Taguchi DOE test plan has considered many potential factors, such as surfactant type and addition, 4BS loading, and curing conditions. Growth of the 4BS crystals has been investigated sequentially — from the very first interactions inside the paste mixer, through the curing process, and through to the final analysis of cured plates. The characterization of pasted plates has focused on 4BS crystal phase, size, shape, dimensions aspect ratio, specific surface-area and free lead content. Finally, the effect of surfactant-treated 4BS on the crystal growth and curing of PAM has been analysed. This work provides a better understanding of dispersants’ reactions with 4BS and their effect on 4BS performance inside the positive activematerial of lead-acid batteries.

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This is a redacted and reduced version of the complete abstracts which can be found with biographies on the website: 17elbc.ila-lead.org/programme/sessions/

17ELBC ABSTRACTS ENHANCEMENTS IN INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS Silicon Joule bipolar battery technology and its benefits Esteban Hinojosa and Colin Mui (Gridtential, Santa Clara, CA, USA)

Gridtential Energy has developed an advanced technology that integrates silicon bipolar current-collectors with contemporary AGM cell design to deliver improved energy and power performances. Through collaboration with its licensed partners, Gridtential has developed a reference design — a drop-in replacement for existing U1-sized battery systems — to deliver high power and high dynamic charge-acceptance for SLI service in start-stop automobiles. The presentation introduces the Silicon Joule technology platform, specifically its manufacturability, design and performance advantages. There follows information on the characteristics and properties of deep-discharge and thinplate reference designs. Finally, the discussion looks at scalability of the platform to 48V monobloc applications. Electrochemical behaviour of carbon nanomaterials in the positive plate Francisco Trinidad, Fernando de la Fuente (Exide Technologies, Spain) and Angel Larrea and Alodia Orera (ICMA, Spain)

New nanostructured positive activematerials have been prepared by modifying the microstructure of the positive paste (surface area, particle size, conductivity) with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and tetrabasic lead sulfate (4BS) additives. Electrochemical studies with laboratory cells show that certain metallic impurities coming from the catalyzers may be leached into the sulfuric acid, thereby affecting the hydrogen evolution reaction. However, CNT particles can be observed in SEM images and Raman spectra, after the curing process, but disappear after plate formation. It is concluded that CNTs (alone or in combination with 4BS) improve formation efficiency as a result of the increased surface area of the active material. After cycling, the positive activematerial microstructure is found to be unaffected by the additives and the

electrical performance does not exhibit any remarkable difference. In addition, accelerated life tests at high-rate partial-state-of-charge (HRPSoC) cycling cause no detrimental effect on cyclelife for up to more than 1000 cycles. These results indicate that, even though not being fully stable in the highly oxidizing conditions of the positive plate, CNTs help to create a conductive network in the active material that improves formation efficiency. New nanomaterials able to resist the highly oxidative conditions of the positive plate should be further investigated. A successful outcome will allow the lead industry to achieve the goals established by the Consortium for Battery Innovation with regards to energy storage systems, namely, to improve performance and cycle-life of industrial batteries under PSoC conditions. EcoSlag: A green process to recycle slags from secondary lead smelters Almir Trindade and Rodrico Pimenta Giacomini (Antares Recycling, Apucarana, Brazil) and ISI PM — Instituto SENAI de Inovação em Processamento Mineral, Instituto Senai de Tecnologia em Construção Civil

Brazil has the fifth largest lead-acid battery market in the world. This large market raises a major economic and

environmental concern, namely, a lead smelter slag containing heavy metals that is generated in the lead recycling process and then disposed at high cost in controlled industrial landfills. In early 2016, 12 of Brazil’s largest battery-recycling companies, which recycle 36,000 tonnes per month of scrap, teamed up to find an eco-sustainable solution for slag disposal that would stop the metals from ending up in landfills. Antares, with the Brazilian Federal University of Technology (UTFPR) and the SENAI Innovation Institute (ISI), began a technical study of the recycling and reuse of slag. The name given to the project was Eco Slag II. The first part of the work involved surveying the process used by battery recyclers and the technical sampling of the generated slag according to international standards. All the samples were first sent to specialized laboratories for chemical and mineralogical characterization, and then to the UTFPR and ISI for chemical physical tests, with the objective of segregating the slag constituents, for example, iron, lead and others. After exhaustive testing of the separation of the constituents by means of grinding, gravimetry, magnetism and chemical leaching, a beneficiation route was defined, which met the legal parameters for the use of treated slag as an iron source for producing clinker for cement. Improving rechargeability through use of organic type, organic dopant and carbon loading Marco Robotti, Maureen Murphy, Stephanie Luken, Gordon Beckley, Martin Ho and Steven Barnes (Hammond Group, Hammond, IN, USA)

Almir Trindade, Antares Recycling

60 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

In recent years, negative electrodes of lead-acid batteries have been increasingly challenged by new operating conditions at different states-of-charge. Modern battery applications such as energy storage, golf cars, traction and floor cleaners require lead-acid batteries to accept and deliver charge over a wide range of currents and SOCs and consequently the negative active-material has to work harder. Traditional battery chemistries often fail under such challenging operating

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17ELBC ABSTRACTS

Improving rechargeability through tailoring of organic type, dopant, and carbon loading is the next way forward says Marco Robotti from Hammond Group During PSOC cycling, the cell recharge is limited by time. However, the bulk charging step (EÎą), is controlled by the voltage limit, while the absorb charging step (EÎ˛) is limited by time. In each case, the influence of each component changes according to these conditions. 76

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Modern battery applications such as energy storage, golf car, traction and floor cleaners require leadacid batteries to accept and deliver charge at wide range of currents and states of charge. This poses a distinct challenge for the negative electrode, and traditional battery chemistries often fail under such taxing operating conditions. Hammond Group Inc. (HGI), an Marco Robotti, organization serving the lead-acid Hammond Group battery industry for over 90 years, has developed its Advanced Expanders line to improve battery performance in the latest demanding applications. These novel expander formulas feature numerous benefits including suppressing the formation of a passivating PbSO4 layer and increasing the volume of NAM involved in electrochemical reactions. This research paper demonstrates the charging characteristics resulting from the use of organics, dopants, and carbon material in the negative plates of lead-acid batteries. Rechargeability performance of cells during both partial state of charge (PSOC) cycling and deep cycling were investigated by analyzing the amount of recharge observed in both the bulk charging step and the absorb charging step (IE charging). The results are shown in the following chart.

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Under these cycling conditions during the bulk charging step, both the carbon loading and the presence of dopants strongly contribute to the amount of capacity gained during this recharge stage. According to this data, the optimal performance additive would feature high carbon loading with no dopants.

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Using the Taguchi Design of Experiment (DOE) method, contributions from each factor can be determined with a small number of test variables. The adoption of this method has drastically accelerated the Hammond R&D teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance additive product development process. During PSOC and deep cycling, conditions can be limited by time or by available current. If time is limited, maximizing the percentage of charging that takes place in the bulk charging stage will also maximize the total amount charged. When current is limited, maximizing the capacity gain in the absorb charging stage has been shown to enable faster charge return.

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During the absorb charging step (EÎ˛), the overall limit is time. To maximize the charge return rate during the constant voltage charging step, the ideal performance additive will maintain a high current level. Unlike the bulk charging step, the variance contribution is shown to be almost entirely due to the carbon loading. This confirms the well-known benefit of higher carbon loading in PSOC applications. Tailoring charge characteristics of the negative plate is essential to achieve optimum performance in partial stateof-charge applications. The research, using Taguchi DOE methods, confirmed that carbon loading is the most significant factor versus the dopant and organics tested.

Batteries International â&#x20AC;˘ 17ELBC Show Guide â&#x20AC;˘ Summer 2020 â&#x20AC;˘ 61

This is a redacted and reduced version of the complete abstracts which can be found with biographies on the website: 17elbc.ila-lead.org/programme/sessions/

PRESENTATION FOCUS

ENHANCEMENTS IN INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS

This is a redacted and reduced version of the complete abstracts which can be found with biographies on the website: 17elbc.ila-lead.org/programme/sessions/

17ELBC ABSTRACTS ENHANCEMENTS IN INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS conditions. Negative expanders introduced in NAM offer several advantages, for example, less formation of a passivating layer of lead sulfate and a higher volume of NAM involved in the electrochemical reactions. These improvements enable batteries to meet the demands coming from the market. This presentation describes research that focuses on the effect of organic type, carbon loading and organic dopant on the rechargeability of laboratory-built industrial lead-acid cells. A Taguchi DOE has been used with organic type material as factor 1, carbon loading as factor 2 and dopant presence as factor 3. During the preparation of negative pastes, the ratio between sulfuric acid and lead oxide has been kept constant. The curing conditions of the plates have also remained unchanged. Five plates cells have been assembled and tested electrically. The rechargeability performances of cells during both partial state-of-charge and deep cycling have been investigated by analysing the amount of recharge observed both in current charging step and the voltage charging step (IE charging). The time for recharge has been limited to 12 hours. Building better batteries at scale; GreenSeal technology on the factory floor

side-by-side metrics compared with traditional manufacturing. Data will show evidence of lower factory labour and capital costs along with quantifiable environment, health and safety benefits that include the avoidance of the cost of worker-related impacts associated with the lead factory of yesterday. This cost-effective precise manufacturing methodology and the better batteries it produces provides a clear path for the lead battery industry to remain a vital energy storage technology for decades to come. The presentation closes with details of a commercial-scale production line that has been delivered to customers. Adaptive charging of lead batteries for maximum efficiency and cycle lifetime Gregorio Cappucino and Francesco Amoroso (CalBatt, Rende, Italy)

Battery-powered forklifts are becoming more and more popular worldwide. Unfortunately, because of the need for lower total cost of ownership, the industrial mobility sector is driven by the ever-increasing demands by endusers for batteries with higher cyclelife time, greater energy efficiency and faster charging. Accordingly, the position of leadacid is being threatened by the ag-

gressive arrival of alternative battery technologies. Although battery manufacturers are devoting considerable effort towards the improvement of lead-acid, charging is still performed using standard methods which are mainly based on a certain sequence of phases with prefixed voltage and current parameters. This presentation will describe an innovative charging method based on the real-time characterization of battery acceptance and its efficiency for the dynamic setting of charge parameters. Given its embedded advanced characterization algorithms, the method also takes account of unpredictable variations in the battery performance that arise from its operating parameters, for example, temperature, stateof-charge, charge/discharge history, and rest time. Real-case results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, namely: (i) increasing charge efficiency by up to 15% compared with standard ‘conventional’ charging, (ii) a significant extension of cycle-life time due to a cell temperature reduction of 3°C-4°C during the entire charging process. These findings demonstrate the ability of lead-acid to raise both its efficiency and cycle-life to levels that question the justification of employing more expensive alternative battery technologies for lower total cost of ownership.

Michael Everett and David Hartner (Advanced Battery Concepts, Clare, MI, USA)

A new order for manufacturing lead batteries has arrived and, predictably, a better battery comes as part of this new order. GreenSeal bipolar technology reinvents the manufacturing of lead batteries by bringing order-of-magnitude improvements in every area that plays into cost, reliability or manufacturability of traditional lead batteries. The precision of GreenSeal battery manufacturing will be examined and proof of how that precision manifests itself into a better performing battery will be shared. Current-collector fabrication, plate pasting, battery curing and stuffing the case will all be described with

Michael Everett, Advanced Battery Concepts

62 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

Gregorio Cappuccino, CalBatt

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The last word

CE ETIQUETTE … Virtual CONFEREN

Glasses are for amateurs, mugs for pros

Zooming ... without the bookcase In the virtual world, how the industry sees you is of vital importance — but the choice of how you preent yourself is up to you. Mediocre mind? Or intellectual powerhouse? With a camera pointed full at your face in any zoom call, which is your best side? More importantly what kind of backdrop do you want to show your potential customers, clients? First of all, forget all that bookish nonsense. We can all see that’s completely contrived. What down-to-earth batteryman has time to read some filthiness by French philosophers or some drivel by Dickens or smart-alec stuff from Twain? • CEOs — no need for books (what possible advice could a book give you?) but put a selection of Batteries International behind you. A sure indication of being both well informed and erudite. • Marketing managers No need for books here (nobody believes you read them, anyway), just hang a whiteboard behind you and have a few sales charts. Top tip. Make sure the arrow on the chart points up. • Teckies — no need for books (we know you don’t understand normal language) but how about a photo of a cuddly kitten? Let the world know that somewhere deep inside you, there’s a human being wanting to come out. • Consultants — again what possible use do you have for books? So nothing complicated here, just pin a calendar up behind your desk and scatter a few calculators on the desk (calculating your hourly rate and expenses is a full time job).

That early morning conference pick-me-up — whisky, vodka (or plum brandy if you’re a proper European) — must always be poured into a regular coffee mug before the session starts. Set yourself practical limits — expert conference pros call it ‘pacing yourself’ — one mug of ‘coffee’ per each presentation should be enough for a busy morning’s event. Choose a mug that has a work message on it — something inspirational. “Batterymen are always positive”. Neat spirits aren’t recommended — sorry water them down a little. But just a little. Raw spirits hitting the back of the throat and the related rasping sound is a give-away from conference amateurs. Don’t fill coffee mugs up to the brim. Leave a reasonable half inch (10mm) of room. Yes, the best whiskies like to breathe a bit.

Only amateurs don’t pace their ‘coffees’

• Market analysts We do think the odd book helps here — perhaps a few bluffers’ guides to economics and maths — but use a few bottles of gin (empty) to prop them up. Hide the crystal ball and the astrological charts.

63 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

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The last word

CE ETIQUETTE … Virtual CONFEREN

ELBC 2022:

where to next?

The pros and cons of virtual conferences

This magazine’s resolute conviction is that at some point in the next few years ELBC meetings will be held at UK popular resort Southend-on-Sea. The reasons? Proximity to London, Maura’s predilection for whelks, Davidson’s and Bush’s passion for baked oysters à la reine and not forgetting Binks’s love of long pier walks, the scenic mud flats and the fine tourist attractions — betting odds are now building for other locations. Steve Barnes — notable winner of guessing the location of 17ELBC — was adamant that Austria would win again. “Austria is a very famous capital city. It worked for me then, I’m going for it again.” Mike Dunn, co-winner of the Vienna Gaming Syndicate in 2018 that predicted Milan, reckoned that Covid would be a decisive factor for 2022. “I’m going for Mars,” he said. “It’s a safe destination — nobody’ll ever catch a pandemic there.” As ever the ILA remained tightlipped over the next destination. “Revealing all? It’s more than Andy’s life is worth,” said the McDermott with a steely smile.

Pros Cons Extra time with your family

Extra time with your family

Extra time to dedicate to work

Saving money

It’s company money, who cares?

No tiresome hassle at airports, air travel

No airmiles, duty frees, brekkie G&Ts in lounge

Easier social distancing

No late night networking drinking

No long expense accounts to fill in

Huh? They bring out my creative juices!

Comfort of being at home

What’s wrong with 5* hotels anyway?

64 • Batteries International • 17ELBC Show Guide • Summer 2020

Southend-on-Sea in 2022?