This paper is devoted to the development of a new lead acid battery electrolyte formulation for cycling applications, especially for renewable energy markets in developing countries. These emerging markets, such as solar home systems, require lead acid batteries at very low prices and improved performances compared to automotive batteries produced locally. The new acid formulation developed is a mixture of sulphuric acid, liquid colloidal silica and other additives including phosphoric acid. The colloidal silica is used at a low concentration in order to decrease the acid stratification process during cycling at high depth of discharge. Phosphoric acid is used for the improvement of the textural evolution of the positive active material during cycling. After a description of the markets and of the additives used in the new acid formulation, this paper presents the results obtained with normalised photovoltaic cycle testing on low cost automotive batteries modified by the new electrolyte formulation. It is shown that the cycling Life of such batteries is much increased in the presence of the new formulation. These results are explained by the improved evolution of positive active mass softening parameters (specific surface and beta -PbO2 crystallite size) and also by a more homogeneous sulphating process on both plates. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.