Prospects for the development of battery technologies discussed at 16th European Lead Battery Conference and Exhibition

Professional conference of the battery manufacturers and suppliers was held last September. Representatives of Ipower LLC attended a conference in Vienna and have prepared for publication a series of analytical materials on the prospects for the development of battery Industries.

The main factors that will affect the development of the battery industries are:

1. Development of electric vehicles and growth of their share in total sales of new cars.

It is expected that 120 of new electric vehicles models will be proposed by 2020. At the same time, according to forecasts, by 2025 the share of electric vehicles in the Chinese market will account about 12% of global sales.

2. Increased requirements for environmental safety.

This will affect both car manufacturers and battery manufacturers. The main purpose of strengthening environmental requirements is reduction of CO2 emissions. In order to achieve these goals, China, India, France and the UK is ready to abandon the use of Internal Engines Combustions.

How will this affect the global battery industry?

In the near future a technological breakthrough is expected in the area of batteries development. One of the most important competitors of lead-acid batteries are lithium-ion batteries. It is expected that the price of lithium-ion batteries by 2025 will decrease by 50% compared to their current price, and efficiency will increase by more than 20%. However, lithium-ion technologies are difficult to process and the development of recycling technologies can significantly affect their cost. At the same time, issues related to starting engine under conditions of low temperatures, especially below −20 degrees are not resolved: Currently , lead-acid batteries are still showing better results, than lithium-ion batteries at the same conditions.

Lead-acid batteries are used in all types of electric vehicles in order to support the safety system and on-Board network. Lead-acid batteries are widely used in vehicles with Start-Stop systems that are aiming to the reduction of CO2 emissions from the car and are meeting requirements about environment protection. Lead batteries are the most recyclable product. Thus, according to the International Battery Council in the United States the recycling ratio of lead is 99.3%.

In addition to passenger transport, there are other industries in which lead-acid batteries are used effectively: there is a potential growth for lead-acid technologies in the market of automated vehicles. Due to the current safety requirements for preservation of efficiency, in case of breakage of one of them, it is necessary have two independent 12V battery systems.

Lead- acid batteries are fast recharging, easily recycled and reused in the industry. Lithium is almost impossible to recycle and secure, also it has a high price and demonstrates unstable efficiency at low temperatures.

Therefore, due to the positive properties of lead, it will continue to play a significant role in the battery market, despite the fact that it won’t be a market leader.

Authors:

Lemeshevsky V.M., General Director of 1AK-GROUP Holding

Vertai S.P., PhD of Economic Sciences, Associate Professor, Deputy General Director for Marketing of 1AK-GROUP Holding

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