Expect battery prices to be higher this winter, as fast escalating material costs put added pressure on manufacturers. This warning comes from the Independent Battery Distributors Association in the UK, which says that higher raw material costs will have to be passed on to suppliers.

General economic conditions are partly to blame, but so too is growing demand in developing economies such as China and Eastern Europe, which have forced up the price of key ingredient lead. There have also been significant rises in the price of acid and polypropolene, which is used to make many battery cases.

The IBDA is advising battery sellers to buy early for winter demand to make the most of current prices and to make full use of recycling schemes on offer.