Batteries Put the Power in Our Lives

In 2024, Battery Council International (BCI) celebrates its 100-year anniversary as the leading trade association of the North American battery industry. Our passion is educating people on the critical role of batteries in powering our daily lives – and unlocking the tremendous potential of energy storage, especially for achieving a lower carbon future. Above all, our members are committed to safe, responsible battery manufacturing and sustaining the world’s most successful circular economy.

News & Perspectives

U.S.’ Most Recycled Consumer
Product Maintains 99% Recycling Rate

BCI’s new National Recycling Rate Study confirms that the U.S. lead battery industry continues its outstanding recycling rate of 99% — the highest of any consumer product in the U.S. Lead batteries are the gold standard in how to create a highly successful, closed-loop, domestic circular economy.

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$32.9 Billion Annual
Economic Impact

Lead batteries will be the dominant rechargeable battery technology for the foreseeable future. A recent study commissioned by BCI shows the U.S. lead battery industry contributes nearly $33 billion annually and supports 121,000 diverse American jobs. Collectively, our members are helping to advance a greener future by using sustainable, secure domestic resources to create reliable energy storage solutions.

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Essential Applications

Enabling EVs and Charging Stations

The electrification of the global car parc is underway and batteries are a key enabler. Lead batteries are critical to accelerating the transition, since every electric vehicle requires a 12V battery, which typically is a lead battery. Lead batteries are also key to creating more – and more sustainable – EV charging stations. With a 99% recycling rate, lead batteries elevate the sustainability profile of EVs and lead-battery-supported charging stations.

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Lead battery powering essential applications like wind and solar.

Essential Applications

Sustainable Energy Storage
for Renewable Energy

The energy landscape is quickly changing, propelled by the need for domestically secure cleaner, greener energy. Battery energy storage is key to harnessing the power of renewable energy. Multiple battery chemistries, including lead batteries, are pivotal in maximizing both the power and sustainable impact of renewable energy sources. Today, lead batteries comprise 50% of the worldwide rechargeable battery market share, including wind and solar energy storage, for commercial, residential and community-based installations.

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Venkat Srinivasan from the Argonne Collaborative Center

The lead acid battery ... is legendary. We can recycle 95+ percent of [these] batteries all across the world. It's a very safe chemistry, ... [and] we understand how to use it very, very well.

Dr. Venkat Srinivasan, Director, Argonne Collaborative Center for Energy Storage Science