Boating Industry Canada IMPACT profile
Aug 31, 2021
DISCOVER BATTERY – A Conversation with Derek Pettingale
By Alyssa Kerslake
Discover Battery has been developing and manufacturing high-performance batteries for real-world applications since 1949, focusing on transportation, motive power, and energy storage industries. We spoke with Derek Pettingale, Product and Project Management Director at Discover Battery in Richmond, B.C. to learn more about the company, along with their current and future objectives.
What are the current objectives of Discover Battery?
Our Mission is to launch and establish our lithium battery product lines in Stationary (Solar), Mobile (RV/Marine/Work Vehicle) and Motive (Access Lifts, Cleaning Machines) energy storage segments with the appropriate support by adding new people and improving our processes.
The constrained supply of electronic components and an impaired international sea container shipping market are currently impacting the industry. Discover Battery is diligently working overtime to manage production and shipments to minimize the impact of these challenges on our customers around the world.
Since you originally joined Discover Battery, how has the company changed?
Discover Battery has experienced high growth in both lithium and lead-acid battery sales. The company is in a period of transition, adding people, improving processes, upgrading systems and getting closer to our customers.
What do you think Discover Battery as a company will be like in the next several years to come?
Lithium products will drive Discover Battery’s growth. We will continue to grow in size and become more and more of a technology company. Integration of lithium batteries, including the development and integration with software, will increasingly become our focus. It’s exciting to be a part of the lithium battery revolution and the many new opportunities it brings. I am also excited by the challenge of onboarding a new generation of people into our company and the energy storage industry.
Are there any long-term aims for Discovery Battery?
Discover Battery will introduce the LITHIUM PRO battery line later this year.
The Discover LITHIUM PRO battery performs better than any deep-cycle lead-acid battery delivering a longer runtime, ultra-long life, lightning-fast charging, and lighter weight.
LITHIUM PRO will be UL safety certified and integrate into closed-loop CAN-based communication with top brand chargers and inverter-chargers to optimize charger performance and provide State of Charge status.
Unlike generic lithium batteries, LITHIUM PRO will have a high current battery management system and an internal heating system for cold weather charging.
Over the last year, have you noticed any new trends in marine applications?
Consumers are excited about the long battery life, lighter weight and faster charging offered by lithium batteries. They also want to understand the long-term cost-benefit of owning lithium batteries.
Integrators are getting up to speed on incorporating DC-DC converters and ‘smart’ regulators with boat alternator systems to adequately charge and protect lithium batteries.
We are also talking with partners worldwide who are taking a more substantial interest in using communication to integrate charger systems with the battery. All are interested in the benefits of a better, faster charger solution. Still, many are also excited by the accurate real-time state-of-charge status the lithium battery management system will deliver to users using CAN-based closed-loop communications.
