ArcActive has re-engineered the negative electrode of the lead battery to remove the lead grid and replace it with a non-woven carbon fibre fabric (AACarbon™)

ArcActive Limited has been awarded the 2020 Sally Breidegam Miksiewicz Innovation Award Battery Council International (BCI) annually presents this award to celebrate innovation throughout all areas of the manufacturing, recycling and distribution process, including packaging, technology, equipment, safety, chemistry and beyond. The award was established in 2015 to honor industry thought leader, Sally Breidegam Miksiewicz, former CEO of East Penn Manufacturing Co.

New Zealand-based ArcActive has re-engineered the negative electrode of the lead battery to remove the lead grid and replace it with a non-woven carbon fibre fabric (AACarbon™). The benefit of this innovation is that it solves a major technical challenge facing the industry: Achieving high and sustained dynamic charge acceptance while delivering very low water consumption. The company expects the technology has the potential to double the fuel efficiency (and result in CO2 reduction) of the hybrid system in micro hybrid vehicles – which are forecast to be the mass-market car for decades to come.

“We’ve been working on this technology for nine years and it’s been a huge challenge, so to receive this recognition from our peers is really meaningful,” said Stuart McKenzie, chief executive officer of ArcActive. ”We’d also like to thank the battery makers who have made a huge contribution into making this all a reality with their manufacturing, technical and sales support.”

“BCI is pleased to have received 13 submissions for the 2020 Innovation Award,” said Roger Miksad, executive vice president and general counsel of BCI. “We are excited to showcase these innovations to both the industry and the public, and to see how these advances will continue to impact the lead battery industry over time.”

Daramic and TBS Engineering received honorable mentions for their submissions.

To watch a video of each submission, including ArcActive’s, and to learn more about the Innovation Award, visit www.batterycouncil.org/page/InnovationAward

About Battery Council International

Battery Council International is the North American trade association representing the lead-based battery manufacturing, supply, recycling and distribution companies. For more information on the association, visit www.batterycouncil.org

About ArcActive

ArcActive was founded on technology developed at the University of Canterbury by Associate Professor John Abrahamson. The Christchurch-based company started operations in 2011 and the following year won the Monaco CleanEquity award for Excellence in Environmental Technology Research. It has several partnerships in place, including with the world-leading manufacturer East Penn Manufacturing. www.arcactive.com/