zoom_in Click to enlarge

Lewis Urry

▲ ▼

description Lewis Urry Overview

Lewis Urry was a Canadian chemical engineer and inventor whose work helped establish the modern alkaline battery. While working for Eveready Battery Company, part of Union Carbide, he developed a zinc-manganese dioxide battery using an alkaline electrolyte. Eveready introduced the resulting alkaline battery commercially in 1959, providing a longer-lasting alternative to earlier zinc-carbon designs for portable electrical devices.

help Lewis Urry FAQ

What did Lewis Urry invent?

Canadian chemical engineer Lewis Urry developed the modern alkaline battery while working for Eveready. The company introduced the technology in 1959.

How does an alkaline battery differ from an older zinc-carbon battery?

An alkaline battery uses an alkaline electrolyte, commonly potassium hydroxide, with zinc and manganese dioxide electrodes. That chemistry generally provides better capacity and longer shelf life than traditional zinc-carbon cells.

Was Lewis Urry connected to Eveready?

Yes. Urry worked for the Eveready Battery Company when he developed the alkaline battery design that became commercially important in the late 1950s.

Are AA and AAA alkaline batteries based on Lewis Urry’s invention?

The familiar disposable AA and AAA alkaline cells use the general zinc-manganese dioxide alkaline chemistry that Urry helped commercialize. Modern batteries include later manufacturing and design improvements.

swap_horiz

Looking for Lewis Urry alternatives? Compare top competitors ranked & scored

arrow_forward