As BBL Batteries closes in on 50 years, it remains a leading UK battery specialist, embracing the latest technology and helping frontline aftermarket businesses. CVW finds out more.
BBL Batteries is a multi-branch, UK-based battery business that is increasingly focused on the development, introduction and distribution of new and improved battery technologies to the market. Founded in 1972 and proud to remain one of the few fully independent family enterprises in the aftermarket, BBL Batteries, formally Bristol Batteries, understands that its success can be explained through a number of core competencies. These include experience, expertise and, perhaps above all, customer service. The company’s approach to this often overlooked area of business stems from the team’s desire to solve problems and advise on solutions that work for their customers. Battery technology has changed significantly in the last 10 years, so having the expertise to answer queries about these new technologies makes the difference when it comes to attracting customers.
The original batteries on stop-start vehicles have lasted much longer than anticipated due to a number of reasons, but first and foremost is because drivers have the ability to disengage the stop-start function by means of a button, essentially rendering the AGM or EFB battery over-engineered for a van that now runs as a vehicle that does not have stop-start technology. With an increase in stop-start LCVs entering workshops with their original batteries ‘finally’ failing, now is the time to understand and embrace the new technologies, as the opportunities in doing so are sizeable.
With the introduction of stop-start vehicles came the requirement for aftermarket manufacturing and wholesale parts businesses to stock, sell and, more importantly, understand the impact of the new technology on today’s market and indeed their customers. Anticipating the impact on drivers is key to providing the very best advice and service workshops.
The BBL Batteries team consists of stopstart experts, who fully understand the impact that the technology is having on all areas of the battery market. Rather than looking at these changes as a problem, the company can help the aftermarket make the most of recent developments.
Not only does BBL offer great advice and training to its customers, it also stocks quality AGM and EFB batteries from the some of the world’s leading manufacturers, and can advise businesses on how to become the ‘go to’ stop-start experts.
Graham Bultitude, Founder and Managing Director of BBL Batteries, explained, “BBL Batteries was founded with the express aim of supplying premium quality batteries, and associated products, across a wide range of sectors. Close to 50 years later, we are still going from strength to strength, which I put down to the fact that we have always stuck to our core principles; premium quality products, superior customer service and providing fantastic value. The BBL team holds many years’ experience and takes great pride in working with customers to solve their ‘power’ issues. We are increasingly focussed on the development, introduction and distribution of new and improved battery technologies to the market, so as a truly independent battery business, we can always offer the very best solution to our customers.”
