ABSTRACT
Batteries are ubiquitous and diverse. They are found in many shapes and sizes; manufactured from a wide variety of materials and chemistries; and used in every home, business and institution. Stewardship strategies pursued by battery producers have included significant and widespread changes to battery design and chemistry to reduce their toxicity. The demand for portable batteries will continue to increase, driven by a shift to wireless communications platforms and the growing popularity of products such as mobile phones, tablets and laptops. Lead acid battery technology has been around for over 150 years, and its popularity is likely to continue because of its good performance and relatively low cost for automotive and industrial applications. Demand for energy storage batteries is increasing as more households and businesses install solar systems for renewable power. Batteries allow the user to store surplus energy for their own use rather than exporting it to the grid, and in some cases to disconnect from the grid completely.
