History

1967	The Lead-Acid Batteries Department, headed by Prof. Detchko Pavlov, was established within the newly founded Central Laboratory of Electrochemical Power Sources - CLEPS (currently IEES) at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
1972	New expander А72/Skitan EZE efficient in improving the capacity of negative battery plates, was developed and introduced in the production of lead-acid batteries in Bulgaria
1972-1974	Novel starter battery design with plastic case 12Z55 was developed and introduced in the production practice of the Bulgarian battery plant START supplying batteries to the member-countries of the East European block and mostly to VAZ automobile company in the town of Toliati, former USSR
1973-1980	Original technology to replace the ebonite battery cases and covers with such made of pen polyethylene was developed and introduced in the production of traction batteries at AZ ENERGIA battery plant
1976-1988	Technology for the manufacture of electric truck batteries with plastic cases was developed and introduced in the manufacturing practice of AZ M. SHATAROV and AZ START battery plants in Bulgaria
1976-1988	Innovative technology for the manufacture of batteries with tubular plates filled with 4BS pastes was developed
1980-1984	Technology for the production of low-maintenance starter batteries was developed
1984	Elsevier published the book “Power Sources for Electric Vehicles” (Editors B.D.McNicol, D.A.J.Rand), including a 400-page Chapter devoted to Lead-acid Batteries by Detchko Pavlov
1989	The first International Conference on Lead-Acid Batteries, called LABAT, was organized by the Lead-Acid Batteries Department of IEES. Since then, LABAT conferences are held every three years and have proved to be an important scientific forum gathering researchers, technologists and battery experts from all over the world.
1991	The first R&D Agreement was signed between LABD/CLEPS and the German company VARTA for the development of the 4BS technology, which was the first step on the road of the LABD team towards the world scientific market after the democratic changes in Bulgaria
1991-1992	The gel-crystal model for the structure of the positive active mass was proposed
1993	The first R&D Project, entitled „Improvement of Cycle Life, esp. under EV Discharge & Recharge Conditions” and sponsored by the ALABC (now BCI), was contracted. Since then, the LABD team has successfully completed 7 projects funded by the Consortium.
1994	The novel technology for wet filling of positive tubular plates with 4BS suspension, developed by the LABD, was introduced in the production practice of ENERGIA and ELCHIM-ISKRA battery plants in Bulgaria
1994-1995	Improved method for the production of positive plate pastes using high-density suspension of tetrabasic lead sulfate (4BS) was developed.
1998	All testing laboratories of the LABD were modernized and a computerized system for test data collection and monitoring was employed.
1998-2000	Technology for the manufacture of batteries with high-power positive plates of the innovative strap grid tubular design was developed for the Bulgarian battery company ELCHIM-ISKRA AD
1998-2005	Innovative technology for the manufacture of AGM separator modified with polymer emulsions (MAGM) for VRLA batteries was developed and patented by researchers from the LABD team within an R&D project funded by the US company GNB (later part of EXIDE Technologies).
1998-2005	A new generation of highly efficient organic expanders was created, in cooperation with the Norwegian company Borregaard LignoTech, based on comprehensive studies of the efficiency of ligno-sulphonate additives and their effect on the performance of negative battery plates.
2000-2009	Stationary VRLA battery design and the technology for their production were developed for the Bulgarian battery company MONBAT AD.
2003-2012	Comprehensive research was conducted into the thermal phenomena during operation of VRLA batteries with glass mat separators.
2007	In-depth investigations of the electrochemical systems and the performance of lead-carbon electrodes in lead-acid batteries have been performed, resulting in selection of efficient carbon additives for lead-acid battery applications.
2011	Elsevier BV published the "Lead-Acid Batteries: Science and Technology" (656 pages) written by Prof. Detchko Palov - fundamental scientific work used and highly evaluated by scientists, educators, experts and technologists worldwide. In 2015, it was published in Chinese as well. The second revised and updated (720 pages) edition of the book was issued in 2017.
2014-2016	Joint research of LABD and Hitachi Chemical Company, Japan, was conducted aimed to find new highly efficient polymer additives to the negative plates or to the electrolyte of lead-acid batteries. A novel technological solution for improvement of the performance of lead-acid batteries and reducing sulfation was proposed and patented.