<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.4

                               EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES
                            2004 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

                         ------------------------------

               NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT

                         ------------------------------

                                 AWARD NO.______

                  You (the "Participant") are hereby awarded the following stock
option (the "Option") to purchase Common Stock of Exide Technologies ("the
"Company"), subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Stock Option
Award Agreement (this "Award Agreement") and in the Exide Technologies 2004
Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), which is attached hereto. You should
carefully review these documents, and consult with your personal financial
advisor, before exercising this Option.

                  By executing this Award Agreement, you agree to be bound by
all of the Plan's terms and conditions as if they had been set out verbatim in
this Award Agreement. In addition, you recognize and agree that all
determinations, interpretations, or other actions respecting the Plan and this
Award Agreement will be made by the Board of Directors of Exide Technologies
(the "Board") or the Committee pursuant to Section 4 of the Plan, and that such
determinations, interpretations or other actions are (unless arbitrary and
capricious) final, conclusive and binding upon all parties, including you, your
heirs, and representatives. Capitalized terms are defined in the Plan or in this
Award Agreement.

1. VARIABLE TERMS. This Option shall be controlled by and interpreted according
to the following terms, subject to the provisions of the Plan in all instances:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name of Participant
---------------------------     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>
Type of Stock Option            Non-Qualified Stock Option

Number of Shares subject to
Option

Option Exercise Price per
Share

Date of Option Grant            October 13, 2004

Expiration Date                 10 years after Date of Option Grant

Vesting Schedule                You shall fully vest in the right to exercise this Option Your Restricted Shares
                                under this Award Agreement shall fully vest on October 13, 2005, subject in each
                                case to automatic vesting if such director is not re-elected at the Company's annual
                                meeting of shareholders in August 2005 and as otherwise provided in the Plan, to the
                                shareholder approval condition set forth in Section 7 below, and to your Continuous
                                Service with the Company not ending before the vesting date.
</TABLE>

2. TERM OF OPTION. The term of the Option will expire on the Expiration Date or
earlier as provided in Section 6 or pursuant to the terms of the Plan.


                                       1
<PAGE>

3. MANNER OF EXERCISE. Prior to its expiration pursuant to the terms of this
Award Agreement, each Option may be exercised, in whole or in part (provided
that the Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares), by delivery
of written notice of exercise to the secretary of the Company accompanied by the
full exercise price of the Shares being purchased. The exercise price of the
Option may be paid in the following manner:

                  (a)      cash or check payable to the Company (in U.S.
         dollars);

                  (b)      other Shares that (A) are owned by the Participant
         who is purchasing Shares pursuant to an Option, (B) have a Fair Market
         Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of
         the Shares as to which the Option is being exercised, (C) were not
         acquired by such Participant pursuant to the exercise of an Option,
         unless such Shares have been owned by such Participant for at least six
         months or such other period as the Committee may determine, (D) are
         all, at the time of such surrender, free and clear of any and all
         claims, pledges, liens and encumbrances, or any restrictions which
         would in any manner restrict the transfer of such shares to or by the
         Company (other than such restrictions as may have existed prior to an
         issuance of such Shares by the Company to such Participant), and (E)
         are duly endorsed for transfer to the Company;

                  (c)      a cashless exercise program that the Committee may
         approve, from time to time in its discretion, pursuant to which a
         Participant may concurrently provide irrevocable instructions (A) to
         such Participant's broker or dealer to effect the immediate sale of the
         purchased Shares and remit to the Company, out of the sale proceeds
         available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to cover the
         exercise price of the Option plus all applicable taxes required to be
         withheld by the Company by reason of such exercise, and (B) to the
         Company to deliver the certificates for the purchased Shares directly
         to such broker or dealer in order to complete the sale; or

                  (d)      any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.

The Company shall not be required to deliver Shares pursuant to the exercise of
an Option until payment of the full exercise price therefore is received by the
Company. The amount of Shares for which the Option may be exercised is
cumulative; that is, if you fail to exercise the Option for all of the Shares
vested under the Option during any period set forth above, then any Shares
subject to the Option that are not exercised during such period may be exercised
during any subsequent period, until the expiration or termination of the Option
pursuant to Sections 2 and 6 of this Award Agreement and the terms of the Plan.
Fractional Shares may not be purchased.

4. ISSUANCE OF SHARES. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or this
Agreement, as promptly as practicable after receipt of written notice of
exercise and payment in full of the exercise price and any required income tax
withholding, the Company will issue or transfer to Participant the number of
Shares with respect to which the Option has been exercised (less shares withheld
in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations, if any) and will deliver to
Participant a certificate or certificates therefor, registered in Participant's
name.

5. SPECIAL INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS ("ISO") PROVISIONS. If designated as an ISO,
this Option shall be treated as an ISO to the extent allowable under Section 422
of the Code, and shall otherwise be treated as a Non-ISO. If you sell or
otherwise dispose of Shares acquired upon the exercise of an


                                       2
<PAGE>

ISO within 1 year from the date such Shares were acquired or 2 years from the
Date of Option Grant, you agree to deliver a written report to the Company
within 10 days following the sale or other disposition of such Shares detailing
the net proceeds of such sale or disposition. You agree that you may be subject
to income tax withholding by the Company on compensation income recognized by
you from the early disposition by payment in cash or out of the current wages or
other compensation payable to you.

6. TERMINATION OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE.

                  (a)      Termination other than Upon Disability or Death or
for Cause. In the event of termination of a Participant's Continuous Service
(other than as a result of Participant's death, disability or termination for
Cause), the Participant shall have the right to exercise an Option at any time
within 90 days following such termination to the extent the Participant was
entitled to exercise such Option at the date of such termination.

                  (b)      Disability. In the event of termination of a
Participant's Continuous Service as a result of his or her "disability" within
the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, the Participant shall have the
right to exercise an Option at any time within one year following such
termination to the extent the Participant was entitled to exercise such Option
at the date of such termination.

                  (c)      Death. In the event of the death of a Participant
during the period of Continuous Service since the Grant Date of an Option, or
within thirty days following termination of the Participant's Continuous
Service, the Option may be exercised, at any time within one year following the
date of the Participant's death, by the Participant's estate or by a person who
acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to
the extent the right to exercise the Option had vested at the date of death or,
if earlier, the date the Participant's Continuous Service terminated.

                  (d)      Cause. If the Committee determines that a
Participant's Continuous Service terminated due to Cause, the Participant shall
immediately forfeit the right to exercise any Option, and it shall be considered
immediately null and void.

7. SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL CONDITION. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein or in the Plan and pursuant to Section 17 of the Plan, this
Award is expressly conditioned on the Plan being approved by the shareholders of
the Company. Accordingly, you may not exercise this Option until such approval
has been obtained, and this Award shall become null, void, and of no force or
effect if such approval is not received within the period set forth in Section
17 of the Plan.

8. TRANSFER. The Options granted herein are not transferable, except as provided
in Section 10 of the Plan, or as approved by the Committee.

9. DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein or in the Plan, following the execution of this Award
Agreement, you may expressly designate a beneficiary (the "Beneficiary") to your
interest in the Option awarded hereby. You shall designate the Beneficiary by
completing and executing a designation of beneficiary agreement substantially in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Designation of Beneficiary") and
delivering an executed copy of the Designation of Beneficiary to the Company.


                                       3
<PAGE>

10. ADJUSTMENTS. Options may be adjusted or terminated in any manner as
contemplated by the Plan or this Agreement

11. WITHHOLDING. Upon (a) disposition of Shares acquired pursuant to the
exercise of an Incentive Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan within two
years of the grant of the Incentive Stock Option or within one year after
exercise of the Incentive Stock Option, or (b) exercise of a Nonqualified Stock
Option (or an Incentive Stock Option treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option), or
(c) under any other circumstances determined by the Committee in its sole
discretion, the Company will have the right to require any Participant, and such
Participant by accepting the Awards granted under the Plan agrees, to pay to the
Company the amount of any Federal, state, local income taxes or other taxes
incurred by reason of the exercise of Options granted hereunder that the Company
may be required to withhold with respect thereto. In the event of clauses (a),
(b) or (c), Participant will pay to the Company such amount as the Company deems
necessary to satisfy its minimum tax withholding obligation and such payment
will be made: (i) in cash, (ii) to the extent authorized by the Committee,
having the Company retain shares which would otherwise be delivered upon
exercise of an Option, (iii) to the extent authorized by the Committee,
delivering or attesting to ownership of Shares owned by the holder of the Option
for at least 6 months prior to the exercise of such Option or (iv) any
combination of any such methods. For purposes hereof, Shares will be valued at
Fair Market Value.

12. NOTICES. Any notice, payment or communication required or permitted to be
given by any provision of this Award Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
delivered personally or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested,
addressed as follows: (i) if to the Company, at the address set forth on the
signature page, to the attention of: Executive Vice President -- Human
Resources; (ii) if to Participant, at the address set forth below his or her
signature on the signature page hereto. Each party may, from time to time, by
notice to the other party hereto, specify a new address for delivery of notices
to such party hereunder. Any such notice shall be deemed to be delivered, given,
and received for all purposes as of the date such notice is received or properly
mailed.

13. BINDING EFFECT. Except as otherwise provided in this Award Agreement or in
the Plan, every covenant, term, and provision of this Award Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors, transferees, and assigns.

14. MODIFICATIONS. This Award Agreement may be modified or amended at any time
by the Committee, provided that your consent must be obtained for any
modification that adversely alters or impairs any rights or obligations under
this Award Agreement, unless there is an express Plan provision permitting the
Committee to act unilaterally to make the modification.

15. HEADINGS. Section and other headings contained in this Award Agreement are
for reference purposes only and are not intended to describe, interpret, define
or limit the scope or intent of this Award Agreement or any provision hereof.

16. SEVERABILITY. Every provision of this Award Agreement and of the Plan is
intended to be severable. If any term hereof is illegal or invalid for any
reason, such illegality or invalidity shall not affect the validity or legality
of the remaining terms of this Award Agreement.

17. GOVERNING LAW. This Award Agreement shall be interpreted, administered and
otherwise subject to the laws of the State of Delaware (disregarding
choice-of-law provisions).


                                       4
<PAGE>

18. COUNTERPARTS. This Award Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in
separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an
original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same
instrument.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

         BY YOUR SIGNATURE BELOW, along with the signature of the Company's
representative, you and the Company agree that the Option is awarded under and
governed by the terms and conditions of this Award Agreement and the Plan.

                               EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES



                               By:
                                  ---------------------------------------------
                                  A duly authorized Director or Officer

                               Address: 13000 Deerfield Parkway
                                        Building 200
                                        Alpharetta, GA 30004

         The undersigned hereby accepts the terms of this Award Agreement and
the Plan.



                               ------------------------------------------------

                               Address:
                                       ----------------------------------------

                                       ----------------------------------------


                                       5
<PAGE>

                               EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES
                            2004 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

                                    EXHIBIT A

                           DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY

         In connection with the STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT (the "Award
Agreement") entered into on _______________, 200_ between Exide Technologies.
(the "Company") and _______________, an individual residing at
__________________________ __________________________________________ (the
"Participant"), the Participant hereby designates the person specified below as
the beneficiary of the Participant's interest in a stock option to purchase
shares of Common Stock (as defined in the Award Agreement) of the Company
awarded pursuant to the Award Agreement. This designation shall remain in effect
until revoked in writing by the Participant.



                  Name of Beneficiary:
                                         --------------------------------------


                  Address:
                                         --------------------------------------


                                         --------------------------------------


                                         --------------------------------------

                  Social Security No.:
                                         --------------------------------------

         The Participant understands that this designation operates to entitle
the above-named beneficiary to the rights conferred by the Award Agreement from
the date this form is delivered to the Company until such date as this
designation is revoked in writing by the Participant, including by delivery to
the Company of a written designation of beneficiary executed by the Participant
on a later date.



                                       Date:
                                             ----------------------------------
                                       By:
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             [Participant Name]

Sworn to before me this

____ day of ____________, 200_


------------------------------
Notary Public

County of
            -----------------------
State of
            -----------------------


                                       1