Batteries are so central to powering our daily lives, they’ve earned their own holiday. Every year on February 18, we celebrate the importance of batteries and the role they play in keeping us connected and safe.
Lead Batteries: Essential to the Mix
U.S. lead battery manufacturers and recyclers use National Battery Day (NBD) to specifically highlight the benefits of lead batteries. As the world moves toward electrification, the demand for all battery types is growing exponentially. Safe, reliable lead batteries are a trusted cornerstone in the mix of energy storage chemistries needed now – and for the multitude of applications ahead.
Why celebrate NBD on February 18? There’s an “electrifying” reason. It’s the anniversary of Alessandro Volta’s birth in 1745. The Italian physicist and chemist invented the electric battery, which is playing a prominent role in electrifying our world and accelerating decarbonization efforts.
Lead Battery Applications Keep Growing
Modern lead batteries are the result of millions of dollars of research and innovation by the lead battery industry. Today’s lead-based energy storage technology serves a diverse array of applications. That includes providing over 60% of the world’s rechargeable energy storage needs for:
- Logistics. Our transportation system relies on lead batteries to move goods and materials via rail, air, ship and highways. Lead batteries supply 89% of the motive power battery demand in applications such as forklifts to keep commerce on track.
- Transportation. In the U.S., Americans rely on 275 million cars and trucks to take us where we want to go for work and play. Each vehicle is powered by a lead battery, and all most every electric vehicle has one, too.
- Telecom. Lead batteries provide 88% of the backup power required for 24/7 telecommunications.
- Data Security. Their reliability, cost and safety make lead batteries the dominant choice for the UPS battery market, meeting 90% of demand.
- Emergency Power. Hospitals and first responders rely on lead batteries for back-up power during outages and to deploy lighting and other mobile electronics during emergencies.
Lead Batteries: Ready to Power Our Energy Future
On NBD, we also celebrate the growing role of lead batteries in our future. The lead battery industry is steadily advancing the green-energy storage revolution, helping renewable energy storage facilities reliably deliver carbon-free power to more people.
The need will only increase. Thankfully, lead batteries will ensure that demand is met with:
- Investments. Over the past 20 years, the lead battery industry has invested more than $50 million to improve the lifetime, performance and reliability of lead batteries.
- Domestic Supply Chain. The lead battery industry’s domestic, scalable infrastructure ensures a secure chain. More than 90% of the demand for lead batteries in the U.S. is met by North American lead battery manufacturers who can rely on a lead battery’s 99% recycling rate for feedstock materials.
Celebrate by Sharing the NBD Logo
Every day is a good day to celebrate battery technology. We invite anyone to use this logo – available in static or animated GIF formats – at no cost. It replicates a growing “smart” cityscape formed from various battery types representing the role batteries play in powering our everyday lives and future.
Join the Battery Conversation
Join the conversation and National Battery Day celebration on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn by using the following assets:
Handles
- Twitter:@EnergyEveryday
- Facebook: @Essential Energy Everyday
- LinkedIn: @Essential Energy Everyday
Hashtags
- #NationalBatteryDay
- #BatteryDay
- #Batteries
- #BatteryRecycling
Related Content
The high recycling rate of U.S. lead batteries means a large percent of U.S. lead battery manufacturing supply chain inputs (73% of its lead) are sourced from domestic recyclers.