Bi-polar batteries

The news of a major industrial collaboration to produce the world’s first commercially viable bi-polar lead-acid battery was announced at the opening of the UK’s first Advanced Bi-polar Battery Development research facility.

Glamorgan University’s research-and-development (R&D) facility will be at the heart of a programme to test and develop bi-polar batteries using unique components manufactured by Atraverda, an advanced materials company based in Wales.

Bi-polar batteries are widely regarded as having the best potential to replace the traditional lead-acid battery.

The collaboration between Atraverda and Glamorgan University could result in the production of batteries that are up to 40 per cent lighter and 20 per cent smaller and that have 40 per cent more energy capacity and twice the lifespan of traditional lead-acid batteries.

They are also more environmentally friendly, using up to 50 per cent less lead. They also produce 80 per cent less CO₂ during the manufacturing process. Bi-polar batteries are 100 per cent recyclable and will be significantly cheaper than other battery types under development, such as lithium technologies.