Exide Batteries
Encyclopedia
Exide Technologies is the world's second-largest producer of automotive lead acid batteries
for automotive and industrial applications. The Company’s four global business groups – Transportation Americas, Transportation Europe and Rest of World, Industrial Power Americas and Industrial Power Europe and Rest of World – provide a comprehensive range of stored electrical energy products and services for industrial and transportation applications.
Transportation markets include original-equipment and aftermarket automotive, heavy-duty truck, agricultural and marine applications, and new technologies for hybrid vehicles and automotive applications. Industrial markets include network power applications such as telecommunications systems, electric utilities, railroads, photovoltaic (solar-power related) and uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and motive-power applications including lift trucks, mining and other commercial vehicles.
Exide was founded by W.W. Gibbs in 1888 and was then called Electric Storage Battery Company. Gibbs purchased the ideas and patents of inventor Clement Payen to make the storage battery a commercial product. Gibbs targeted electric lighting companies so they could use the storage batteries to provide services to their customers.
In 1900, the company developed a product of greater capacity and less weight for electric taxicabs. This battery was the first to bear the name Exide, short for "Excellent Oxide".
When the United States entered World War I
, Exide batteries were used to operate airplane radio sets and power radio stations. In 1938, Exide acquired Giant Storage Battery Company, and expanded into battery chargers and testers.
Exide bought out the dry battery business of a company called Brittania Batteries Ltd.
During World War II
, Exide was a major supplier of batteries for U.S. Navy submarine
s and primary contractor for batteries used in the Mark 18
electric torpedo.
Exide entered the dry-cell battery industry in 1957 when it acquired the Ray-O-Vac Company
, then the second largest producer of dry-cell batteries in the US. Following the acquisition of the Wisconsin Battery Company, Exide started producing motorcycle and specialty batteries. In 1987, it acquired General Battery Corporation.
Robert A. Lutz, former president and vice chairman at Chrysler Corporation, was appointed Exide's Chairman of the Board in 1998. He reorganized the worldwide management structure into Global Business Units and sold off non-battery units to allow the company to concentrate on its primary business. In 2000, Exide acquired GNB Technologies, a leading North American supplier of automotive batteries. Two years later Exide filed for bankruptcy after compiling a debt of $2.5 billion as a result of the recent acquisitions.
Exide is a sponsor of the Cornell Automotive X-Prize Team.
Exide Technologies has signed an agreement to be the sole lead-acid battery supplier for the REVA
(Revolutionary Electric Vehicle Alternative) car-making project in Bangalore,
India.
Lead-acid battery
Lead–acid batteries, invented in 1859 by French physicist Gaston Planté, are the oldest type of rechargeable battery. Despite having a very low energy-to-weight ratio and a low energy-to-volume ratio, their ability to supply high surge currents means that the cells maintain a relatively large...
for automotive and industrial applications. The Company’s four global business groups – Transportation Americas, Transportation Europe and Rest of World, Industrial Power Americas and Industrial Power Europe and Rest of World – provide a comprehensive range of stored electrical energy products and services for industrial and transportation applications.
Transportation markets include original-equipment and aftermarket automotive, heavy-duty truck, agricultural and marine applications, and new technologies for hybrid vehicles and automotive applications. Industrial markets include network power applications such as telecommunications systems, electric utilities, railroads, photovoltaic (solar-power related) and uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and motive-power applications including lift trucks, mining and other commercial vehicles.
Exide was founded by W.W. Gibbs in 1888 and was then called Electric Storage Battery Company. Gibbs purchased the ideas and patents of inventor Clement Payen to make the storage battery a commercial product. Gibbs targeted electric lighting companies so they could use the storage batteries to provide services to their customers.
In 1900, the company developed a product of greater capacity and less weight for electric taxicabs. This battery was the first to bear the name Exide, short for "Excellent Oxide".
When the United States entered World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Exide batteries were used to operate airplane radio sets and power radio stations. In 1938, Exide acquired Giant Storage Battery Company, and expanded into battery chargers and testers.
Exide bought out the dry battery business of a company called Brittania Batteries Ltd.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Exide was a major supplier of batteries for U.S. Navy submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s and primary contractor for batteries used in the Mark 18
Mark 18 torpedo
The Mark 18 torpedo was an electric torpedo used by the US Navy during World War II.The Mark 18 was built in competition to the Bureau of Ordnance electric torpedoes, which had been in development at the Newport Torpedo Station , Newport, Rhode Island, since the 1920s, in particular the Mark II,...
electric torpedo.
Exide entered the dry-cell battery industry in 1957 when it acquired the Ray-O-Vac Company
Rayovac
Rayovac is a brand of batteries owned by Spectrum Brands of Madison, Wisconsin, United States.- History :...
, then the second largest producer of dry-cell batteries in the US. Following the acquisition of the Wisconsin Battery Company, Exide started producing motorcycle and specialty batteries. In 1987, it acquired General Battery Corporation.
Robert A. Lutz, former president and vice chairman at Chrysler Corporation, was appointed Exide's Chairman of the Board in 1998. He reorganized the worldwide management structure into Global Business Units and sold off non-battery units to allow the company to concentrate on its primary business. In 2000, Exide acquired GNB Technologies, a leading North American supplier of automotive batteries. Two years later Exide filed for bankruptcy after compiling a debt of $2.5 billion as a result of the recent acquisitions.
Exide is a sponsor of the Cornell Automotive X-Prize Team.
Exide Technologies has signed an agreement to be the sole lead-acid battery supplier for the REVA
REVA
The REVAi, known as G-Wiz in the UK, is a small micro electric car, made by the Indian manufacturer REVA Electric Car Company since 2001...
(Revolutionary Electric Vehicle Alternative) car-making project in Bangalore,
India.