1.   The vans are powered by conventional lead acid batteries, recharged by plugging into mains electricity or parking over an induction loop overnight.

2.   The manufacturers are currently working on an alternative version which uses sodium acid batteries.

3.   These could provide four times as much power as lead acid batteries.

4.   Lead acid batteries are just at the moment very heavy compared with petrol, but there are many alternative types of battery being researched.

5.   Among the biggest decliners were Exide, a maker of lead acid batteries, and Tandy Brands Accessories, which makes leather accessories.

6.   By next summer LaStella hopes to replace the lead acid battery pack with one using fiber nickel cadmium.

7.   Nissan and Sony said the lithium ion battery packs as much energy as a lead acid battery that weighs three times as much.

8.   Requirements for EPA to issue air toxic safeguards for such industries as lead smelting and lead acid battery manufacturing also would be delayed indefinitely.

9.   The company manufactures lead acid batteries.