VALVE-REGULATED LEAD ACID BATTERIES FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES - PRESENT AND FUTURE/

In the USA, the State of California has officially planned to introduc e zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in 1998. In Japan, Hino Motors, Ltd., has developed the HIMR bus as a low-pollution vehicle. Worldwide, vehi cle developers are using valve-regulated lead/acid (VRLA) batteries as the power sources. This is because the technology has easy maintenanc e and good safety characteristics. The authors' company is working on the development of VRLA batteries and is continuing to improve them vi a feedback from both bench and field tests. By means of better positiv e plates, negative plates and separators, longer battery life has been achieved. This paper discusses the present status and future advancem ent of the VRLA batteries.