Battery Power Online | Articles

Battery Take-Back Legislation: EU Speciality or Worldwide Principle of Waste Management?

Josh Johnson June 26, 2013

Ofira Varga, Senior Consultant
1WEEE Services GmbH

Do you remember the good old days, when government and, in particular, municipalities assumed overall responsibility for waste management? Unfortunately, from a producer’s perspective they are gone in many regions and countries. In 2006, the EU published the Directive 2006/66/EU on batteries and accumulators and introduced take-back obligations for battery producers. Read more about Battery Take-Back Legislation: EU Speciality or Worldwide Principle of Waste Management? …

Battery Management With an Intelligent Battery Sensor is Vital to the Success of Future Automotive Designs

Josh Johnson October 8, 2014

Christopher Lohmeier, R&D Engineer, Vishay Intertechnology
Tom Veik, Sr. Engineering Technician, Vishay Intertechnology

Modern automobiles need to become more efficient to comply with future fuel economy standards. Much of this efficiency can be, and has been, gained with innovations that depend on the vehicle’s electrical system. Technological innovations such as stop-start, drive-by-wire, and brake-by-wire systems are just a few of these improvements. All of these new technologies, however, have one major downside in that they rely on the one component of the electrical system that has not seen much innovation since the 1950s, the lead-acid battery. Read more about Battery Management With an Intelligent Battery Sensor is Vital to the Success of Future Automotive Designs …

Batteries: An Integrated Solution

Josh Johnson October 8, 2014

Jennifer Eirich, Marketing Manager, Utilities
EnerSys

According to the US Department of Energy (DOE), growth in peak demand for electricity in the US has exceeded transmission growth by almost 25 percent every year since 1982.¹ Today’s utilities are now being challenged to manage increasing consumption with an aging and already compromised infrastructure, congested transmission lines and greater reliance on renewable resources. Read more about Batteries: An Integrated Solution …

Modular Conveyor Technologies Give Manufacturers an Edge in Battery Assembly Applications

Josh Johnson September 25, 2014

Rick Blake, President
Edgewater Automation

In almost every facet of today’s world, from telecommunications to transportation, from tiny cell phones to construction vehicles, batteries are included. New advances in battery technology, particularly lithium ion and multi-cell prismatic designs, create new, unique challenges in automating battery assembly. Read more about Modular Conveyor Technologies Give Manufacturers an Edge in Battery Assembly Applications …

Achieving Compliance to Small Format Battery Pack Standards

Josh Johnson September 11, 2014

John C. Copeland, VP/COO, Energy Assurance LLC

From my days as a young Marine Corps Officer, it was stressed that “Safety is Paramount”. The same is very much the case when it comes to the design of small-format secondary lithium battery packs. Failure in this regard risks personal injury and property damage, not to mention significant losses associated with negative publicity for those deemed responsible in the court of public opinion. Read more about Achieving Compliance to Small Format Battery Pack Standards …

Battery Diagnostics and Monitoring Advancements in Battery Test Technologies

Josh Johnson September 11, 2014

Isidor Buchmann, CEO and Founder, Cadex Electronics, Inc.

The leading health indicator of a battery is capacity; a measurement that represents energy storage. A new battery delivers (should deliver) 100 percent of the rated capacity. Lead acid starts at about 85 percent and increases in capacity through use before the long and gradual decrease begins. Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) starts at peak capacity and begins its decline immediately, albeit very slowly. Read more about Battery Diagnostics and Monitoring Advancements in Battery Test Technologies …

Switch to New ID Reader Helps Battery Manufacturer Solve Read Rate and Interface Problems

Josh Johnson June 12, 2014

Exide Technologies is one of the world’s largest producers, distributors and recyclers of lead-acid batteries. The company traces every aspect of each build in order to maintain tight control over its production process. In the past, difficulties were experienced in reading 2D data matrix codes burned into plastic with a laser burner and also interfacing the ID readers to the programmable logic controllers (PLCs) used to control production lines. Read more about Switch to New ID Reader Helps Battery Manufacturer Solve Read Rate and Interface Problems …