Lead-acid batteries have short cycle life in hybrid electric vehicles due to negative plate sulphation occurring at high-rate partial-state-of-charge cycling. It has been found experimentally that the problem can be solved by adding carbon to the negative plate. The types of carbon added, and the methods for their application are reviewed in this study. Special attention is devoted to the physical and chemical properties of carbon and to their importance for battery performance. Some methods for designing carbon electrodes (solid carbon and carbon powder) for electrochemical studies of carbon are described along with some initial test results like open circuit potential data and voltammograms in the negative plate potential region and in the region of hydrogen evolution. The available theoretical models explaining the mechanism of the influence of carbon on the power performance of lead-carbon batteries are also discussed.
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