01 Inexpensive Energy Storage Technique For portable devices, lithium-ion and nickel-based batteries work best. On the other hand, traditional lead-acid batteries are far more cost-effective than lithium-ion and nickel-based batteries and are far more suited for stationary applications and wheeled mobility. Lead-acid batteries are heavier than new batteries (the typical automobile battery weighs 18.6 kg), giving them a greater bulk. Enormous bulk translates with a low energy-to-weight ratio. Lead-acid batteries have a higher surge current capacity, which is advantageous for starting, lighting, and ignition (SLI) applications in the automobile sector. This is primarily responsible for the automotive industry's high demand for lead-acid batteries.Batteries from the modern era, such as lithium-ion and nickel-based models, are twice as expensive as lead-acid batteries. Due to their low cost of production, lead-acid batteries are in high demand all over the world. Due to their affordability, these batteries are primarily in high demand for UPS and automotive applications. According to a survey by the Industrial Technology Research Institute, the automobile industry alone consumed more than 288.0 million lead-acid batteries in 2019, accounting for 60.0% of all lead-acid battery consumption worldwide.
01 Drawbacks of using Lead Acid Batteries Although ordinary lead-acid batteries are a cheap energy source, new battery technologies are anticipated by the worldwide market to unlock the long-term energy potential of batteries. There are a few drawbacks of lead-acid batteries that can be the cause of this. A few of them include the lengthy charging process, weight, flammable gas hazards during charging, and risk of chemical burns. Manufacturers are creating lithium-ion, nickel, and zinc-based batteries to replace lead-acid batteries. Where lead-acid batteries fall short of expectations, the market for these batteries is rising. Lithium-ion batteries have been shown to outperform lead-acid batteries in terms of charging, capacity, and efficiency, except for cost and recycling considerations.The demand for and production of lead-acid batteries are anticipated to be constrained globally due to the rapid uptake of lithium-ion batteries and the slower adoption of nickel- and zinc-based batteries. This will eventually limit the consumption of carbon black by lead-acid battery manufacturers worldwide. This element will have an even more significant impact during the projected period.
01 Expanding Data Centres Worldwide Information from the internet is stored on a network of servers collectively referred to as data centers and is accessible from anywhere. Due to their high power-to-weight ratio and solid current surge, lead-acid batteries are frequently used in such data centers since they can handle the significant energy output brought on by high internet traffic. Lead-acid batteries with valve regulation are commonly chosen in data centers since they are recognized for their unregulated power supply. For instance, seven of the 18 data centers Facebook owns and Google's 21 are in the United States. Companies worldwide are growing their data centers to handle varied data complications as the need to extend the edge of the internet becomes more apparent. There are increasingly more hyper-scale data centers, particularly in China and the US.The largest retailer, Amazon, intends to expand the amount of its data centers in the country. Therefore, it is projected that as more data centers are constructed in the coming years, there will be a higher demand for lead-acid batteries to supply electricity. It is also predicted that the expansion of data centers will contribute to an increase in the lead-acid batteries market, which will probably lead to an increase in black carbon usage from battery manufacturers throughout the projection period.
June 2026 Birla Carbon participated in The Battery Show Europe 2026, showcasing its portfolio of conductive carbon additives for battery applications, including advanced lead-acid batteries, while expanding engagement with global battery manufacturers.
May 2026 Birla Carbon announced a global organizational restructuring to better align with customer requirements and accelerate execution across specialty carbon materials, including battery-grade conductive additives.
November 2025 Orion S.A. announced growing commercial adoption of its PRINTEX® Kappa 100 acetylene black conductive additive for battery energy storage applications, expanding its advanced battery materials business.
May 2025 Cabot Corporation launched a new range of specialty carbon blacks engineered to improve dynamic charge acceptance and cycle life of valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries used in energy storage systems.