The Remarkable Evolution and Enduring Relevance of Lead Acid Battery Technology

History and Mechanism
Planté's original invention comprised of two lead sheets placed in a sulfuric acid solution in a glass container. When electricity is applied, a chemical reaction occurs where lead sulfate is deposited on the electrodes while lead dioxide is formed on the positive plates. During discharge, the reverse reaction occurs as lead and lead dioxide are converted back to lead sulfate while current is delivered to the external circuit. Over the years, refinements such as adding separators and enveloping the components inside polypropylene or rubber cases improved performance and shelf life of these batteries.

Key Attributes
Lead acid batteries offer unbeatable reliability and affordability which have allowed them to remain a preferred solution across various industries and applications. Some of their prominent advantages are:

- Low Cost of Manufacturing: Lead and sulfuric acid used in manufacturing these batteries are inexpensive raw materials. This keeps the overall production costs low, making lead acid batteries very affordable compared to other rechargeable battery types.

- Structural Robustness: The use of polypropylene or rubber cases makes lead acid batteries rugged and capable of withstanding vibrations, drops and other mechanical stresses. Their robust design lends itself to industrial and off-grid use cases.

- High Recyclability: Nearly all components of a lead acid battery, including lead, sulfuric acid and plastic can be recycled. In most countries, lead acid battery recycling rates are over 99%, making this one of the most sustainable battery chemistries.

- Mature Technology: Over a century of continuous improvements and refinements have resulted in lead acid battery manufacturing being a fully mature large-scale industrial process.

Applications
The unique combination of affordability, reliability and structural integrity of lead acid batteries has resulted in their widespread use across multiple applications. Some of the major sectors where these batteries are commonly used include:

Automotive Starting, Lighting and Ignition (SLI)
Lead Acid Battery remain the dominant choice for starting, lighting and ignition applications in motor vehicles till date, as their high cranking power, reliability and robustness fulfill all requirements for automotive use. Over 70% of all lead acid batteries produced globally are used in automotive applications.

Emergency Backup Power
Whether for homes, telecom towers, data centers or hospitals, lead acid batteries are the go-to solution for providing temporary backup power during electricity outages or load shedding incidents. Their structural resilience makes them ideal for standby applications.

Off-Grid Energy Storage
In rural electrification projects and mini-grids across developing regions, lead acid batteries enable reliable power storage from renewable energy sources like solar PV and wind. Their ability to perform in tough environments expands energy access.

Traction Applications
Forklifts, miner locomotives, golf carts, floor scrubbers, electric wheelchairs - all use lead acid batteries for propulsion due to their weight-carrying ability and high depth of discharge capability.

Other Uses
From uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems to electric boats, recreational vehicles and telecom tower sites - lead acid batteries have widespread industrial and commercial usage owing to their low cost and proven performance

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