National Battery Day

Batteries are so central to powering our daily lives, they’ve earned their own holiday. Every year on February 18, we celebrate the importance of batteries and the role they play to keep us safe, connected, and meeting decarbonization goals.

Essential Energy Powering Our Lives and Economy

Why celebrate National Battery Day (NBD) on February 18? There’s an “electrifying” reason. It’s the anniversary of Alessandro Volta’s birth in 1745. The Italian physicist and chemist invented the electric battery, which is playing a prominent role in electrifying our world.

Today, domestically produced storage batteries are used by a wide range of industries, households and the government to support day-to-day activities and critical operations.

This essential technology not only energizes our daily lives, but also yields significant economic impact, as highlighted in a recent report, “The Battery Fueled Economy: US Domestic and Supported Canadian Activity,” prepared by EBP.

us battery industry economic impact infographic

The U.S. battery industry powers roughly $8.1 trillion worth of domestic industrial economic output annually, or roughly 20% of the U.S. economy. Plus, the industry provides nearly 48 million U.S. jobs that are related to, or reliant on, the battery industry.

“The battery manufacturing industry is a hidden engine of economic growth for communities all across North America,” said Roger Miksad, President and Executive Director of BCI, the leading trade association for the battery industry. “Cars and trucks, data centers, forklifts, renewable energy storage and more rely on batteries every day to provide the essential energy that powers the modern economy.”

Download the NEW U.S. Battery Industry Economic Impact Infographic

Lead Batteries: Essential to the Mix

U.S. lead battery manufacturers and recyclers use National Battery Day (NBD) to specifically highlight the benefits and successful circular economy of lead batteries. As the world moves toward electrification, the demand for all battery types is growing exponentially. Safe, reliable and infinitely recyclable lead batteries are a trusted cornerstone in the mix of energy storage chemistries needed now – and for the multitude of applications ahead.

Lead Battery Applications Keep Growing

Modern lead batteries are the result of millions of dollars of research and innovation by the lead battery industry. Today’s lead-based energy storage technology serves a diverse array of applications. That includes providing nearly 45% of the world’s rechargeable energy storage needs for:

Logistics. Our transportation system relies on lead batteries to move goods and materials via rail, air, ship and highways. Lead batteries supply 76% of the motive power battery demand in applications such as forklifts to keep commerce on track.
Transportation. In the U.S., Americans rely on more than 290 million cars and trucks to take us where we want to go for work and play. Each vehicle is powered by a lead battery, including electric vehicles (EVs).
EV Charging (and Fast Charging) Stations. Sustainable lead batteries are a trusted solution to enable the transition to EVs and fast charging stations to transport us to a low-carbon future.

Telecom. Lead batteries provide over 80% of the backup power required for 24/7 telecommunications.
Data Security. Their reliability, cost and safety make lead batteries the dominant choice for the UPS battery market, meeting 70% of demand.
Emergency Power. Hospitals and first responders rely on lead batteries for back-up power during outages and to deploy lighting and other mobile electronics during emergencies.
Renewable Energy Storage. Lead batteries offer an impressive sustainability profile which makes them an ideal energy storage partner for growing renewables like solar, wind and water.

Lead Batteries: Ready to Provide Power Now

On NBD, we also celebrate the readiness of the lead battery industry. We know that meeting energy storage demands will require a mix of battery chemistries. Lead batteries are poised to deliver.

Our industry is steadily advancing the green-energy storage revolution with sustainable, domestic manufacturing capacity:

Investments. Over the past 20 years, the lead battery industry has invested more than $50 million to improve the lifetime, performance and reliability of lead batteries.

Domestic Supply Chain. The lead battery industry’s domestic, scalable infrastructure ensures a secure chain. Approximately 90% of the demand for lead batteries in the U.S. is met by North American lead battery manufacturers. Lead batteries are at the forefront of North American battery production with +206 GWh of annual manufacturing capacity.
Sustainability. Lead batteries are one of the most environmentally sustainable options of all battery technologies. They have a 99% recycling rate and a typical new lead battery is comprised of 80% recycled material.

Celebrate by Sharing the NBD Logo

Every day is a good day to celebrate battery technology. We invite anyone to use this logo – available in static or animated GIF formats – at no cost. It replicates a growing “smart” cityscape formed from various battery types representing the role batteries play in powering our everyday lives and future.

Download the NBD Logo