Propelling innovation in automotive lead batteries: DCA & Heat Workshop

In its first ever virtual edition, CBI held a successful DCA & Heat Workshop which brought together nearly 200 people from across six of the seven continents, representing the global lead battery industry and car manufacturers.

The event, which is held every year in Europe, moved online last week due to the re-scheduling of the in-person meeting to October. 

Co-organised with CENELEC, the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization, CBI’s DCA & Heat meetings aim to drive discussion into the latest research into lead battery performance improvements.

Specifically targeting dynamic charge acceptance (DCA), the workshops are moving the industry closer to achieving CBI’s technical roadmap goal of improving DCA performance by 5 times to 2 Amps/Ah by 2022. This ambitious goal brings together lead battery manufacturers, materials suppliers, researchers and car companies in technical, in-depth discussion.

Each day of the workshop featured a specific topic, starting with discussion of the formulation and initial testing of a new key life test (nKLT) for 12 V lead batteries in automotive applications. This first session covered a wide array of conditions and testing that was performed to formulate and qualify nKLT.

The second day covered research lab level cell testing including discussions of best practices, special concerns for high temperature testing, studies focused on test scaling and design parameters for cell when measuring DCA, and a discussion of how better cell construction can significantly improve data.  

The final day covered mechanisms related to DCA effects in a negative lead battery electrode. The discussion covered the effects of DCA testing changes on individual electrical performance characteristics, concerns and proper practices regarding techniques used to study lead battery electrodes, and the mechanisms that may govern DCA changes in negative electrodes over time.

As more of the world’s vehicles move to greater levels of hybridisation and electrification, the demand for automotive lead batteries will continue to increase. The ability of lead batteries to continue innovating and delivering performance breakthroughs will ensure the technology remains essential to the future of clean mobility across the globe.

The importance of continuing scientific discussion and progress in battery developments during this difficult time faced due to COVID-19 was made clear by the fantastic and record attendance for the interactive workshop.