Columbia is partnering with Inventus Power, a global leader in the design and manufacture of advanced battery systems, and will be incorporating a lithium battery pack option in our Utilitruck products, beginning in the spring of 2022!
The technology of the Columbia — a carbon-zinc battery using an acidic electrolyte — served as the basis of all dry-cell batteries for the next 60 years, until the introduction of the alkaline battery by the Eveready Battery Company (now Energizer) in the late 1950s. Back to top
The trademark “Columbia” was proposed by Nelson C. Cotabish, a sales manager at NCC. In 1896, the company marketed the very first battery intended for widespread consumer use: the sealed, 6-inch, 1.5-volt Columbia battery. NCC was the first company to successfully manufacture and distribute sealed dry-cell batteries on a large scale.
“The Columbia Dry Cell Battery” commemorative booklet produced by the National Historic Chemical Landmarks program of the American Chemical Society in 2005 (PDF). Modern battery development can be traced to the work of Luigi Galvani, who observed in the 1780s that a frog’s leg twitched when connected by arcs made of iron and brass.
Columbia's customers have been interested in the prospect of lithium power for some time now, and after a process of testing and research, we have a very big announcement!
The American Chemical Society designated the Columbia Dry Cell battery as a National Historic Chemical Landmark in a ceremony on September 27, 2005, at Energizer Global Technology Center in Cleveland, Ohio, and Energizer Holdings Inc. headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. The text of the plaque commemorating the landmark reads: