Battery Facts & Applications

Batteries connect, power and protect our everyday energy needs. Explore the fundamentals of battery technology, the impact of battery recycling in creating a circular economy, key industry data and statistics, and the essential applications that depend on batteries to power transportation, industries, and global energy needs.

**About Lead Batteries**Today’s innovative lead acid batteries are key to a cleaner, greener future and provide 50% of the world’s rechargeable power. Discover more lead battery facts.

**Essential Applications**Batteries support a vast array of applications, from small-scale power storage and transportation to industrial operations and large grid-scale power systems. They are essential in powering everything from golf carts to microgrids, driving efficiency, innovation, and sustainability across industries.

**About Flow Batteries**Flow batteries are notable for their scalability and long-duration energy storage capabilities, making them ideal for stationary applications that demand consistent and reliable power. Their unique design, which separates energy storage from power generation, provides flexibility and durability. Ongoing advancements are enhancing their efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability

**About Lithium-ion Batteries**Lithium-ion batteries offer transformative benefits for modern industries. These batteries are known for their high energy density, light weight, and excellent performance. Their compact size fast charging makes lithium batteries well-suited to specific applications.

Circular Economy — **About Battery Recycling**The lead battery industry, with its established circular infrastructure, is a model for other battery chemistries in how to responsibly source, use, reuse and manage materials.

**Glossary of Terms**Explore the BCI glossary for battery terms, acronyms, and definitions on battery technology, recycling and manufacturing terminology.

**About Battery Separators**Battery separators are a critical safety and performance component across battery technologies, including lead, flow, and lithium-ion. Though often overlooked, the separator plays a central role in enabling chemical reactions to occur safely and efficiently across battery chemistries.

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.

Battery Facts & Applications

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