A Brief History of Start-stop Lead-Acid battery in China
Start-stop batteries first appeared in China in the 1980s, but only entered the popularisation phase in the 21st century. Their growth is driven by the need to improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions and meet stricter vehicle regulations.
Why start-stop matters in China
In the bus market across China, the US and Europe, the main development direction is the same: save fuel, improve the environment and cut CO2 emissions. Emerging hybrid electric vehicles are practical and can use low-cost, safe lead-acid batteries as start-stop batteries, delivering initial fuel savings and emission reductions of around 7%.
Lead-carbon for mild hybrids
For “mild hybrid” vehicles, the start-stop lead-acid (Pb/C) battery offers strong dynamic charge acceptance, good durability and high reliability. Lead-carbon start-stop batteries suitable for mild hybrids are being actively developed and promoted in China.
Market context
Chinese government regulations on vehicle exhaust emissions are tightening, and environmental pressures – including severe smog episodes from 2012 onwards – have accelerated the adoption of fuel-saving technology. Start-stop systems, and the batteries that support them, have therefore grown rapidly in the domestic market, with AGM and EFB platforms supplied by manufacturers such as PALMA.
The history shows a technology moving from exploration to standard equipment, and the battery remains the component that makes it reliable.