EnerSys has won a $71 million contract to supply thin plate pure lead batteries to the US Defense Logistics Agency for up to five years, the company announced on March 21.

EnerSys, a reserve and motive power battery maker, has supplied the US army with Hawker Armasafe Plus batteries for a variety of applications for the past 15 years. The contract will be renewed for three years with an option for a further two, the company said.

The 12V AGM lead acid batteries are maintenance free, have a shelf life of 24 months and an expected operational life of up to 53 months, according to the product specification. They will continue to be made at EnerSys’ Warrensburg, Missouri facility, which also produces batteries for US Navy nuclear submarines and military aircraft.

“Over the past several years EnerSys has expanded its technology to include batteries that power everything from submarines to satellites,” said Jeffrey Long, president Americas at EnerSys.

He said the company was prepared to support the army as it transitioned from traditional flooded lead acid batteries to valve regulated lead acid batteries.

• Separately, Exide Technologies was awarded a $47.4 million contract to supply storage batteries to the Defense Logistics Agency, also for three years with an option to renew after two, the US Department of Defense confirmed on its website on March 17. Exide has supplied batteries in one form or another to the US military since the First World War.