Abstract: A lead-acid battery comprising: at least one lead-based negative electrode; at least one lead dioxide-based positive electrode; at least one capacitor electrode; and electrolyte in contact with the electrodes; wherein a battery part is formed by the lead based negative electrode and the lead dioxide-based positive electrode; and an asymmetric capacitor part is formed by the capacitor electrode and one electrode selected from the lead based negative electrode and the lead-dioxide based positive electrode; and wherein all negative electrodes are connected to a negative busbar, and all positive electrodes are connected to a positive busbar. The capacitor electrode may be a capacitor negative electrode comprising carbon and an additive mixture selected from oxides, hydroxides or sulfates of lead, zinc, cadmium, silver and bismuth, or a capacitor negative electrode comprising carbon, red lead, antimony in oxide, hydroxide or sulfate form, and optionally other additives.

Abstract: A lead-acid battery comprising: at least one lead-based negative electrode; at least one lead dioxide-based positive electrode; at least one capacitor electrode; and electrolyte in contact with the electrodes; wherein a battery part is formed by the lead based negative electrode and the lead dioxide-based positive electrode; and an asymmetric capacitor part is formed by the capacitor electrode and one electrode selected from the lead based negative electrode and the lead-dioxide based positive electrode; and wherein all negative electrodes are connected to a negative busbar, and all positive electrodes are connected to a positive busbar. The capacitor electrode may be a capacitor negative electrode comprising carbon and an additive mixture selected from oxides, hydroxides or sulfates of lead, zinc, cadmium, silver and bismuth, or a capacitor negative electrode comprising carbon, red lead, antimony in oxide, hydroxide or sulfate form, and optionally other additives.

Abstract: A lead-acid battery comprising: at least one lead-based negative electrode; at least one lead dioxide-based positive electrode; at least one capacitor electrode; and electrolyte in contact with the electrodes; wherein a battery part is formed by the lead based negative electrode and the lead dioxide-based positive electrode; and an asymmetric capacitor part is formed by the capacitor electrode and one electrode selected from the lead based negative electrode and the lead-dioxide based positive electrode; and wherein all negative electrodes are connected to a negative busbar, and all positive electrodes are connected to a positive busbar. The capacitor electrode may be a capacitor negative electrode comprising carbon and an additive mixture selected from oxides, hydroxides or sulfates of lead, zinc, cadmium, silver and bismuth, or a capacitor negative electrode comprising carbon, red lead, antimony in oxide, hydroxide or sulfate form, and optionally other additives.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fast charging of batteries such as lead acid batteries is provided. A repeatedly pulsed current is applied to the battery to enable a determined resistance free maximum pulsed voltage to be reached where the determined resistance free maximum pulsed voltage is below that at which unacceptable gassing will occur. The determined resistance free maximum pulsed voltage is above that of a known average resistance free pulsed voltage for the battery type. When the determined maximum pulsed voltage is reached the pulsed current is continued to be applied to maintain the resistance free maximum pulsed voltage at approximately the determined resistance free maximum pulsed voltage by at least one of: (I) reducing the amplitude of the pulsed charging current, (II) increasing the OFF-time of pulses of the pulsed charging current, (III) decreasing the ON-time of pulses of the pulsed charging current, (IV) a combination of any two or more of (I), (II) or (III).