"The objective of this innovation project is to address the lead acid battery industry’s technology and market challenges through a Carbon-Nano Materials technology solution which dramatically enhances L.A. battery performance, without altering battery design or modifying existing manufacturing processes, and at a nominal cost to the manufacturer. By doing so we will create a substantail market opportunity across our value chain, reduce the huge environmental footprint of the lead acid industry, advance European objectives in emissions reduction, improved fuel economy, and uptake of renewable energy, and reinforce European leadership in Carbon Nano Materials technology.
Lead acid remains by far the largest battery industry, shipping in Y2013 over 750,000,000 units worldwide, with a FabEx value of over $36B, and at a CAGR of 5% -6%. At the same time, the lead acid industry is facing a “tectonic market shift”. With the introduction of micro-hybrid (start-stop) vehicles in Europe and the U.S. the mushrooming of electric 2-wheeler urban transport in Asia, the growing global demand for scalable, cost-efficient electrical energy storage, tightening environmental regulation, and competing chemistries, the industry is struggling to maintain its dominant market position while turning a profit. Meeting these growing industry demands means delivering high-cycle-life batteries, with improved dynamic charge acceptance and deep-discharge ability, while at the same time maintaining lead acid’s #1 competitive advantage - cost.
The objective of this project is to address the lead acid industry’s challenges through an innovative Carbon Nano-Materials technology solution which has been under development by lead acid manufacturer Vulcan and its partners over the last 6 years. VoltaNano enables premium-battery performance based on a standard lead acid battery platform, utilizing existing fabrication lines, and at nominal cost.
The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of launching VoltaNano as a viable business, and building a comprehensive business plan for the VoltaNano international offering. The findings of the feasibility study have been very positive, and the progress made throughout SME Phase I term has already been substantial en route to commercialization of the VoltaNano offering.
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