US battery industry welcomes Biden recovery plan

Battery makers in the United States have applauded President-elect Joe Biden’s trillion-dollar bid to reboot the nation’s economy.

Battery Council International (BCI) which represents lead battery manufacturers, described the industry as strongly positioned to support the newly-elected President’s efforts to help the economy recover from the impact of the global pandemic.

Roger Miksad, BCI’s Executive Vice President, said: “The lead battery industry, with its strong domestic supply chain, is ideally positioned to rapidly deliver on the President-elect’s promise to have American jobs support the nation’s post-Covid economic recovery, and also to ensure America’s global leadership on technological innovation and a green economy infrastructure.”

Dr Andy Bush, Managing Director of ILA said: “Both the US and Europe are now looking to boost economic activity and strengthen efforts to achieve carbon reduction targets. The lead and lead battery industries will without doubt make a significant contribution to both economic recovery and decarbonisation.”

Lisa Dry, BCI’s strategic communications chief, added: “Lead batteries will be the dominant rechargeable battery technology for the foreseeable future, are the most recycled consumer product in the nation, and are the global leader in a variety of green applications from well-known automotive uses supporting clean mobility in low-carbon start-stop and micro-hybrid vehicles, to the growing utility and renewable energy storage markets which are ushering in a global energy transition.”

The U.S. lead battery industry invested $100 million in R&D in 2019 and through agreements with the U.S. National Laboratories system is actively pursuing next gen battery technology and energy storage – working closely with the Consortium for Battery Innovation – to meet the needs of a market that is expected to grow from 360 GWh in 2020 to 430 GWh in 2030. 

BCI’s campaign to promote the lead battery industry in the United States, Essential Energy Everyday, has helped build greater support and awareness of the industry and its key role in delivering a low carbon future.

Cover image photo credit: New Sonora.