The American Battery Research Group (ARBG), comprised of U.S. lead battery manufacturers and suppliers, was created to identify areas of scientific research to further the performance of lead batteries to meet U.S. energy storage goals. It operates under the auspices of Battery Council International.
Advancing Battery Innovation: The American Battery Research Group
The BCI American Battery Research Group (ABRG) is a collaborative initiative dedicated to advancing lead battery performance, sustainability, and domestic manufacturing by bringing together industry leaders, researchers, and national laboratories to conduct scientific studies. Led by Tim Ellis, BCI Technical Director, and with financial support from U.S. lead battery manufacturers Clarios, Crown Battery, East Penn Manufacturing, EnerSys, and Stryten Energy, the ABRG pursues the following areas of focus:
- Partners with premier institutions including Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Toledo to explore new materials, optimize battery lifecycles, and ensure energy storage solutions remain reliable, efficient, and environmentally responsible.
- Leverages advanced analytical tools including high-throughput electrochemical test stations, DFT calculations, and machine learning to identify molecular parameters that enhance battery performance and inform predictive modeling.
- Supports the industry’s well-established circular economy by investing in research that extends battery lifespan, optimizes material recovery, and advances domestic battery manufacturing toward a more sustainable energy future.
Pioneering Research with Argonne National Laboratory & the University of Toledo
This project, initially launched as a two-year effort, was extended to four years with plans underway for additional extensions. The project is in cooperation with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Toledo to examine the molecular structure of lead battery expanders, lignosulfonates, which can dramatically improve battery performance. The project is financially supported by five U.S. lead battery industry manufacturers: Clarios, Crown Battery, East Penn Manufacturing, and EnerSys, with Stryten Energy joining in 2023 (Ecobat has withdrawn).
Work over the next year will focus on using the high-throughput electrochemical test station (specifically designed and developed by ANL for this program) to collect data for the close-loop MEM predictive model, leveraging DFT calculations and machine learning to identify molecular parameters that can enhance MEM performance.
This research will help extend battery lifespan, optimize material recovery, and further enhance the industry’s well-established circular economy. By investing in cutting-edge science, this partnership supports the continued advancement of domestic battery manufacturing and a more sustainable energy future.
Batteries provide grid stability and drive efficient use of energy generated from renewable and carbon-based sources. Long-duration battery storage can be scaled in size and duration to meet the needs of utilities, commercial and industrial, as well as military bases.