About Us | Exide

A valued partner since 1888.

Exide is the worldwide leader in stored electrical energy solutions.

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Powering the World Since 1888.

1888

W.W. Gibbs founds Exide's predecessor company, the Electric Storage Battery Company. After acquiring patents to make the storage battery a commercial product, the batteries were marketed towards electric fighting companies.

1898

Exide batteries provide the submerged power for the U.S. Navy's first modern commissioned submarine, the USS Holland (SS-1).

1900

As the new century dawned, electric taxicabs first appeared in many large cities. To power these cars, a lightweight and high-capacity product was developed.

1912

In an effort to eliminate dangerous hand-cranked engine starting, Cadillac becomes the first battery started internal combustion car. Exide batteries supplied power for lighting and ignition.

1924

Exide batteries take flight! U.S. Navy squadron planes rely on Exide stored energy technologies in flights across the globe.

1934

Exide powers Jeannette and Jean Piccard through a record-breaking high altitude balloon fligh over Lake Erie.

1941

"Battle Tested, Military Approved." Through WWII, Exide supplied submarine batteries to the U.S. Navy, in addition to other tank and fleet vehicles.

1957

Sonnenschein patents Dryfit Gel technology, bringing new reliability to stored energy.

1969

NASA's first lunar landing module used the stored energy of Exide's solar-recharged batteries. NASA took nickel-zinc Exide batteries to the moon on all of the Apollo space missions.

1973

Ahead of our time, Exide's Sundancer experimental car combines an 8-horsepower electric motor and 12 6-volt batteries.

1992

From yachts to jet skis... Free electrolyte and gel technology allow for the use of Exide batteries in various marine applications.

1994

Exide expands its battery business to Europe.

2000

Exide acquires Technologies, and enhances their North American market presence for automotive and industrial battery solutions.

2004

Exide Europe designs the first Start-Stop Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) battery in the market for a French car manufacturer.

2008

Exide Europe develops the first Enhanced Flooded Battery battery for Start-Stop cars and introduces the first generation of high vibration resistance (HVR®) truck battery technology to major truck manufacturers.

2010

Exide opens its Global Technology Center in Milton, Georgia to develop new materials, products and processes. The $4 million Technology Center joins existing facilities in Spain and Germany with the goal of expanding global Research, Design and Engineering activities for a brighter stored energy future.

2012

Exide launches their Edge AGM product line in the Americas as the first and only absorbed glass mat stored energy solution — providing lasting energy, maximum durability and a faster re-charge for premium performance.

2013

Exide Europe launches Li-Ion batteries for Motion applications are launched under the Sonnenschein Lithium brand.

2015

Exide opens new Motion R&D testing facility in Michigan, in order to develop advanced materials, products and processes to meet increasing global demand for energy storage solutions.

2016

Exide Technologies is awarded a $30.7 Million cost-sharing grant from the U.S. Government as part of the Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III Program. “Project Neptune” is officially launched at our Fort Smith, AR facility. As part of the project, the Fort Smith team will produce batteries to power U.S. Navy submarines.

2017

Exide opens a new plate manufacturing facility in Kansas City, Missouri. This facility is entirely dedicated to the production of Exide’s new life-extending LifeGrid™ Technology.

2018

Exide acquires Aker Wade Technologies, which designs and manufactures advanced charging systems for industrial forklifts. The addition of Aker Wade chargers to Exide’s Industrial Power battery portfolio will provide best-in-class total power solutions to the Motion industry.