Battery Council International’s centenary convention got underway today (Monday) with an upbeat assessment of the association’s first century and a call for more political lobbying. There was a positive view of the impact of the lead battery industry on the US economy.
In opening the convention, BCI Chairman Chris Pruitt pointed out that nearly 48 million US jobs are reliant on the battery industry. BCI quotes research that the battery industry in 2021 represented some 20% of the $8.1 trillion domestic economic output.
“Manufacturing and recycling of batteries is a big part of that,” Pruitt told his audience. And some industry segments, such as data centres and telecoms, did not exist 100 years ago. Some were not significant just a decade ago, but will be an important part of the industry in the future.
He told the convention, which attracted over 800 registrations (up from 625 last year) of two significant developments:
- the setting up of the BCI Foundation, which will provide educational assistance to students looking to get into the electrochemical sector
- an increase in political lobbying.
“This year we will be working on new initiatives reaching out to the government,” he said. “There will be a push to reach policymakers.” The aim will be to connect with them and get them to understand the battery industry’s blueprint for manufacturing.
Pruitt, CEO of East Penn Manufacturing, later elaborated on the BCI Foundation and told BEST that US tax rules prevent BCI from giving grants to students, whereas the foundation – a bit like a charitable trust – could do that.
BCI would solicit funds from its members and others for the purpose. “We would pool that money and make decisions on allocating to applications from students. We will favour those who want to go into electrochemistry.”
He said it will start out small and hopefully become big, perhaps with assets of $500,000.
In a separate “fireside chat” session with CEOs from Enersys, Crown Battery, Clarios and East Penn, the question of money and lobbying was raised. Hal Hawk of Crown said he makes donations to politicians on both sides of the divide so he has someone to call on if he needs help, regardless of who is in power. He admitted to being politically on the fence.
Pruitt emphasised in that session the value of inviting politicians into battery plants so they can see the industry first hand and understand it better. That may mean financial donations to politicians’ campaign funds, he said.
Photo: BCI chair Chris Pruitt upbeat, calls for more political lobbying.
