Disclosed is a lead acid battery including: a positive electrode; a negative electrode; a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and an electrolyte containing sulfuric acid. The negative electrode includes a negative electrode active material, and a negative electrode grid that supports the negative electrode active material. The negative electrode grid contains tin in an amount of 0.1 mass % or more and 0.8 mass % or less. The electrolyte contains aluminum ions at a concentration of 1 mmol/L or more and less than 10 mmol L, and sodium ions at a concentration of 15 mmol/L or less.

An apparatus and a method for moulding battery components using an apparatus include a mould block having a plurality of mould cavities; a molten metal feed trough adjacent to the mould block and extending in a generally longitudinal direction along the mould block; a plurality of weirs between the feed trough and each of the cavities; and a supply for providing molten metal to the trough. The feed trough is provided with at least one volume adjustment mechanism, which is operable to alter the volume of the feed trough.

Lead/acid batteries are provided that can include: a plurality of electrodes having a planar copper conductive core member bounded by a polymeric frame maintaining the conductive core member in the planar state.

A method for forming a connection such as an electrical connection, to a fibre material electrode element comprises moving a length of the fibre material relative to a pressure injection stage and pressure impregnating by a series of pressure injection pulses a lug material into a lug zone part of the fibre material to surround and/or penetrate fibres of the fibre material and form a lug strip in the lug zone. The fibre material may be a carbon fibre material and the lug material a metal such as Pb or a Pb alloy. Apparatus for forming an electrical connection to a fibre material electrode element is also disclosed.

Battery electrodes are provided that can include a conductive core supported by a polymeric frame. Methods for manufacturing battery electrodes are provided that can include: providing a sheet of conductive material; and framing the sheet of conductive material with a polymeric material. Batteries are provided that can include a plurality of electrodes, with individual ones of the electrodes comprising a conductive core supported by a polymeric frame.

A bipolar battery is provided with improved productivity and reliability of bonding between a positive electrode and a substrate (bipolar plate) or a negative electrode and the substrate. The bipolar battery includes a bipolar electrode including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a substrate having a first surface on which the positive electrode is provided and a second surface on which the negative electrode is provided. A first adhesion layer is provided between the bipolar plate and the positive electrode and/or between the bipolar plate and the negative electrode. A second adhesion layer is provided at the outer periphery of the first adhesion layer of the positive electrode and/or the negative electrode on which the first adhesion layer is provided. The bipolar plate is formed from resin, the first adhesion layer is formed from an adhesion sheet, and the second adhesion layer is formed from an adhesive cured product.

A bipolar lead-acid storage battery has both life performance to withstand long-term operation and high capacity performance. Positive electrode current collector plates include a lead alloy sheet, a mass loss per total surface area of a test piece is 100 mg/cm.sup.2 or less when measured after the test piece is placed in sulfuric acid at a concentration of 38 mass % maintained at a temperature of 60 C., and a continuous anodization performed at a constant potential of 1,350 mV on a reference electrode for 28 days. A thickness of the collector plate arranged on one surface of a substrate that covers both a side of a positive electrode and a side of a negative electrode of a cell member is between 0.10 mm and 0.50 mm, and a ratio of a volume of the current collector plate to a rated capacity of the battery is between 0.11 and 0.67.

A method for forming a connection such as an electrical connection, to a fiber material electrode element comprises moving a length of the fiber material relative to a pressure injection stage and pressure impregnating by a series of pressure injection pulses a lug material into a lug zone part of the fiber material to surround and/or penetrate fibers of the fiber material and form a lug strip in the lug zone. The fiber material may be a carbon fiber material and the lug material a metal such as Pb or a Pb alloy. Apparatus for forming an electrical connection to a fiber material electrode element is also disclosed.

An accumulator having a plurality of electrode plates which are adjacently arranged and form at least one electrode plate stack in the form of a block, wherein each electrode plate comprises a frame having a grid arranged therein and wherein at least the grid is filled with an active mass, and wherein each electrode plate comprises at least one connecting lug protruding beyond the frame, wherein the connecting lugs of same-polarity electrode plates are arranged adjacent to one another in a row, wherein the connecting lugs adjacently arranged in a row are materially bonded together electrically and mechanically into a connecting lug block by at least one weld or solder point arranged between the connecting lugs. Further described is a method for manufacturing an accumulator.

An accumulator having a plurality of electrode plates which are adjacently arranged and form at least one electrode plate stack in the form of a block, wherein each electrode plate comprises a frame having a grid arranged therein and wherein at least the grid is filled with an active mass, and wherein each electrode plate comprises at least one connecting lug protruding beyond the frame, wherein the connecting lugs of same-polarity electrode plates are arranged adjacent to one another in a row, wherein the connecting lugs adjacently arranged in a row are materially bonded together electrically and mechanically into a connecting lug block by at least one weld or solder point arranged between the connecting lugs. Further described is a method for manufacturing an accumulator.