The battery sector is one of great opportunity for the Irish independent aftermarket and J&S highlighted its great potential at some recent training seminars organised in conjunction with battery supplier Exide. These well attended sessions looked at the development of lead acid battery technology, the emergence of new AGM and EGM batteries, changing battery technology on cars, trucks and agricultural vehicles and battery tools and testers.

The training session also provided an opportunity to introduce those attending to the very latest in battery technology from Exide, the Carbon Boost Battery. Through extensive research, Exide have developed carbon battery additives that mean improved charge acceptance and a significant reduction in battery charging times. This advanced technology is now available in conventional batteries for the first time.

Standard batteries suffer from a build-up of sulphate particles on their negative plates during discharge. This non-conductive layer inhibits recharging, since much of the energy goes into dissolving the sulphate on the plates. Exide discovered that including certain carbon additives vastly improves the surface area and thus the conductivity. This effect causes the sulphate particles to dissolve more quickly, leading to significantly better charging performance.

Premium Carbon Boost batteries are designed for top-of-the-range vehicles with powerful conventional engines and demanding electrical equipment. They are also ideal for the frequent stops and short journeys typical of urban driving and for use in extreme temperatures. The new batteries provide 30% more starting power and will be some of the most advanced conventional batteries on the market.