Battery technology is in a “golden period”, but lead-acid in particular still faces potential regulatory obstacles in Europe, manufacturers have been warned.
Dr Steve Binks (pictured), regulatory affairs director of the International Lead Association, told the Pb2019 conference in Madrid there had “never been a period where battery technology was so recognised as being critical” to e-mobility, energy storage and combating climate change.
But Binks said the lead industry had to “reset” the conversation away from being dominated by lithium-ion. He said EU efforts to build a battery industry powerhouse, under the European Battery Alliance, were focused only on lithium-ion technology.
“We need to show lead batteries have a greater role to play in the future too and that we need a mix of battery technologies,” Binks said.
Meanwhile, Binks said while the lead industry had dodged a “significant threat” in Europe last year, when proposals that could see an in-effect ban on the use of four lead substances were put on hold for further review.
Binks warned it was not unthinkable that the European Commission could take the issue “out of the on-hold position” at any stage, although he thought that would be unlikely until the review had run its course of three to five years.
