US firm Enersys has launched a series of smaller 12V lead-acid batteries for small traction motive power applications using its Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) technology.
Versions of both the firm’s NexSys CORE and PURE blocs have been launched for the OEM and after market applications.
The TPPL technology in the NexSys batteries allows operation in partial state of charge and enables fast opportunity charging, which allows users to recharge the battery up to 70% in one hour.
“Via opportunity charging, NexSys Bloc batteries are able to deliver up to 160% of their nominal charging capacity on a daily basis, meaning they are able to operate across multiple shifts and cover 24h work,” an Enersys spokesman told BEST.
Enersys also claims the new batteries offer a total cost of ownership (NCO) saving versus flooded batteries of up to 20%, although the spokesman did say: “It’s not possible to provide a general figure about TCO because this depends strongly on the application.”
Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) technology has extremely thin lead plates that allow more plate surface area for higher power density and increased efficiency. The batteries also don’t need water topping up while their virtually zero emissions are ideal for sensitive environments.
Their active material formulation is enhanced by the addition of carbon, which reduces sulphation, increases surface area and porosity, lowers internal resistance and delivers fast recharge and exceptional partial state of charge (PSoC) cycling performance, say the firm.
Battery lifetime is claimed to be 1,500 cycles at 60% depth of discharge (DoD) and longer at shallow DoD.
The lead’s purity is another key to their superior energy efficiency, while their electrolyte is securely held in absorbent glass mat (AGM) plate separators.