What is the best battery for wheeled and stationary applications?

Consumer products have benefited the most from the advancements in battery technology. The size and weight reductions achieved for the high-end cell phones, PDAs and laptops, however, have not trickled down to batteries for wheeled and stationary applications in the expected fashion. Only marginal improvements have been gained on these larger batteries. One of the reasons for this apparent lack in progress is the loyalty to the classic sealed lead-acid battery.

The wheeled and stationary industries have several reasons for their unwillingness to change: Lead-acid batteries are mature and inexpensive; the low energy density is not a major drawback because the battery is either on wheels or is stationary: and, the limited cycle life can, to some extent, be compensated by using larger batteries. Unlike portable devices, most wheeled and stationary batteries are replaced due to age rather than wear- out effect induced by high cycle count.

Stay tuned next week for valuable information on choosing the best battery for electronic wheelchairs.

For additional information, visit www.batterygiant.com