The U.S. Energy Department’s Argonne National Laboratory signed an agreement with 14 members of the Advanced Lead Acid Battery Consortium to explore the next generation of lead batteries making it more attractive to the automotive industry and the power grid, according to an Oct. 19 press release. Lead battery makers have largely focused on the feasibility of processing methods and additives, but the interactions inside the battery remain unclear even after 159 years of the technology’s invention. The initiative will utilize the national lab’s resources and expertise to improve the performance of lead batteries and help the industry meet market demand for existing and new applications. Over 80 percent of U.S. large-scale battery power capacity currently comes from lithium-ion chemistries, according to the Energy Information Administration.