Battery Council International recently completed part of an ongoing project to determine the trends of battery development (among other things) and how manufacturers will adapt. There are a few interesting items to note from their research:

·  The North American volume will continue to decline due to longer life batteries.

·  Auto accessories will increase battery power needs.

·  Government regulations and restrictions will become more stringent.

·  Lead-acid batteries will lose share in the car industry due to increased use of Lithium and Nickel batteries.

·  Market demand for rechargeable batteries will increase.

Various forms of lithium batteries are emerging on the market. Although there are concerns about their flammability, many manufacturers are pushing industry standards by pre-qualifying these battery makers. The reason for this trend is simple - lithium is the lightest metal, which results in a high specific charge. For example, it takes 3.85g of lead to produce 1 amp for 1 hour while it only takes 0.26 grams of lithium to produce the same. One type of lithium battery is only 2.5mm. Lithium also produces a higher voltage and therefore, a higher energy density. Lithium is also more eco-friendly than lead or cadmium. These characteristics seem to fit right in line with market trends and many electronics manufacturers have noticed.