Et tu Karden?

摘要

This year's AABC could have been considered one of two distinct halves: the rising lithium-ion star and the lead-acid 'has been'. Why do I say that? The contrast between the opening sessions of the lithium and the lead-acid symposia was very noticeable. The main difference was the data presented in the lithium papers, showing graphs of growing battery sales, which were absent in the lead-acid battery (LAB) presentations. The lithium-ion battery (LIB) presentations concentrated on the improved performances and cost reduction programmes whilst the LAB presentations were mostly concerned with almost clinging onto some market share of an evolving automotive market. As lithium-ion secures its place in the EV and HEV markets it is also challenging the conventional SLI market with developments of low temperature engine-starting capability. The projections for lead-acid in future automotive markets seem to include a combination of lithium battery and lead-acid battery, a sort of 'LIB-LAB' pact ironically shown as just that in Figure 1, from professor Jurgen Garche of ULM University. To those of us from the UK, it will conjure up memories of a political pact with the same abbreviated names, and most of us will remember how successful that partnership turned out to be!