BIGBAT is a series of batteries marketed by ELAN.
The BIGBAT rechargeable valve-regulated lead acid batteries (VRLA) are designed to deliver excellent performance under discharge, overload, vibration, and shock conditions. They feature special sealing resins on slotted and vented casings, as well as welded connectors to ensure extreme resistance to leakage. The BIGBAT VRLA batteries utilize lead and calcium plates separated by an absorbent glass mat (AGM) that retains the electrolyte in contact with the cells.
The main features of BIGBAT batteries are:
- High quality and reliability
- Suitable for deep discharges
- No generation of corrosive gases
- Long service life
- Fast charging
- High power density
- Maintenance-free
They are suitable for various applications such as uninterrupted power supplies (UPS), emergency lighting, alarm controls, backup generators for telecommunication systems, starting motors, and energy storage.
On June 13, 2023, the European Parliament approved a new regulation concerning batteries and battery waste. This new law will clarify technical and legal requirements for batteries, including lead-acid batteries like BIGBAT.
Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 updates the existing regulations by amending Directive 2008/98/EC (on waste) and Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 (on supervision of products placed on the market), while also repealing the Batteries Directive (Dir 2006/66/EC). The repealed directive had previously contributed to better environmental performance of batteries and had established common standards and obligations for economic operators.
ELAN has been closely monitoring the new Regulation and has carried out a series of activities to ensure that all the necessary requirements are met on time, ever since the initial drafts of the legislation were published in 2020.
The new Regulation aims to regulate the free movement of batteries in the EU while also contributing to the efficient functioning of the internal market. It seeks to prevent and reduce the negative effects of batteries on the environment, protect the environment and human health, and minimize the negative impact of waste.
The main goal of the Regulation is to speed up the transition to a circular economy and achieve zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 as part of the European Green Deal. This will be achieved by establishing a unified and comprehensive legislative framework of requirements for battery management.
The Regulation applies to all battery categories, including portable batteries, vehicle batteries, batteries for light transport vehicles, batteries for electric vehicles, and industrial batteries. It covers all aspects of the battery lifecycle, from design to end-of-life management. The Regulation went into effect in August 2023, while the Implementing Regulations and Delegated Regulations will be phased in starting in 2024.
A significant date to note is 18 August 2024, especially for CE marking. It will be mandatory to document the electrochemical performance and durability for certain categories (batteries for electric vehicles, rechargeable industrial batteries with a capacity of more than 2 kWh, and light transport batteries) according to the parameters set by the standard.
ELAN ensures that the BIGBAT lead-acid battery series fully complies with current regulations, guaranteeing high product quality, availability for prompt delivery, and constant, attentive customer care.