From: Trey Granger, Earth 911
Published July 27, 2009 08:41 AM

New Technology Extends Life of Car Batteries

Pulse Technology has developed a new type of car battery charger that it claims can increase the life of a lead-acid battery by three to five times, the equivalent of eight to 10 years of extra life.

The Xtreme Charger’s goal is to reduce lead sulfate deposits that build up on the battery plates. This build up occurs naturally no matter how often the vehicle is used but is increased in extreme hot and cold weather or extended periods of engine idling.

While car batteries are able to recharge while you’re driving, conditions such as sulfate build-up eventually prevent them from holding a charge.

Car batteries have the highest recycling rate (more than 98 percent) of any product in the U.S., but they are also one of the most hazardous if improperly disposed. They contain 21 pounds of lead and a gallon of sulfuric acid, and 117 million new batteries were generated last year alone.

Recycling these batteries is such a high priority that each year AAA holds a Great Battery Roundup to collect them for free. The plastic case and lead are often reprocessed into new battery materials.

Lead-acid batteries generally use a sodium sulfate solution. When this solution is recycled, the sodium sulfate crystals are used in a variety of manufacturing processes. Glass, textiles and laundry detergents all utilize sodium sulfate.