Lets Talk Batteries

[gn7]

lol. You shouldn't use absolutes. They are not the ONLY one.

You are correct, Exide does supply some critical use UPS batteries for the US government.
It would have been more correct to say that all the lead for US government critical use UPS batteries comes from ONE supplier. EXIDE doesn't smelt virgin lead!!!
The US government specifications for ALL CRITICAL USE UPS batteries requires all of them to get the lead from the same supplier. There is just no getting around it.

It would have been more correct to say that ONE company is the supplier of the lead that goes into ALL CRITICAL USE UPS batteries for the US government, And that company is Doe Run AKA Enersys AKA Odyssey.
If you know of another company smelting 99.9% pure virgin lead, I love to hear about it, because as far as I know, Doe Run has a head lock on the lead industry in this country.
While you listing ALL those lead mining/smelting plants, maybe you could list all the companies that refine bauxite to pure virgin aluminum as well. If you think pure virgin lead or aluminum isn't a big deal, ask yourself if you want you next set of $1000.00 2618 pistons, or Dart or Brodix heads made of beer cans, melted frying pans and recycled car wheels.

[Unforgiven]

We use to run OPTIMA's in the Warlock then the Eliminator..but when we rerigged the Eliminator, we picked Odyssey's..2 BIG MOFO's installed under the backseat so we could access..The first set of OPTIMAS worked great for 5 years years..when we replaced with new set..the second set sucked...When we sold the Warlock, the new owner got 4 Optimas in the deal..we took 2 back to NAPA and they replaced no questions asked..It's a roll of the dice with the Blue Tops..reds and yellows seem to last quite a while...

[Bobby V]

My Optimas lasted over 8 years. blue tops

[DC-88]

So how many companies do you figure are making batteries in this country today?
Who do you figure is making Interstate batteries? Interstate?
If you have a Interstate dealer near you, and you are considering Optimas, I would consider an Interstate AGM. Interstate tends to honor their warranty better than Optima. SAME FLIPPIN BATTERY

Yup, basically same thing I was told recently by my buddy who sells Interstate when I got 2 for my truck . Of course he was closed a few weeks later the day I realized I wanted to replace the boat battery so I bought the blue top Optima from the closest Auto Parts store......