Unforgotten Brands: Exide
Exide’s global story began in 1888, when W.W. Gibbs, a forward-thinking entrepreneur in the energy space, founded the Electric Storage Battery Company (ESBC) in the United States. Recognising the transformative potential of electricity, Gibbs acquired patents from French inventor Clement Payen and began converting those ideas into practical, commercial battery solutions. Over the decades, Exide played a vital role in powering innovation and history: In 1898, Exide batteries powered the USS Holland, the U.S. Navy’s first modern submarine. In 1912, Cadillac used Exide batteries to introduce the first electric start in internal combustion engines. During World War II, Exide supplied batteries for submarines, torpedoes, and various military vehicles. In 1969, Exide battery technology was utilised in NASA’s Apollo lunar missions, enabling the power required for the moon landings. Exide’s product innovations continued into the modern era, from early electric vehicles in the 1970s to advance...