A lead-acid battery comprising: (i) a positive electrode; (ii) a negative electrode; (iii) a separator positioned between the positive electrode and the negative electrode so as to electrically insulate the positive and negative electrodes; and (iv) a nonwoven fiber mat positioned adjacent the positive electrode or the negative electrode, the nonwoven fiber mat comprising: (a) a mixture of coarse glass fibers comprising: - a plurality of first glass fibers having diameters between 8 μm to 13 μm; and - a plurality of second glass fibers having diameters of at least 6 μm, the plurality of second glass fibers comprising a silane material sizing; (b) an acid resistant binder that bonds the plurality of first and second glass fibers to form the nonwoven fiber mat; (c) a wetting component applied to the nonwoven fiber mat to increase the wettability of the nonwoven fiber mat such that the nonwoven fiber mat has or exhibits an average water wick height of at least 1.0 cm after exposure to water for 10 minutes conducted according to method ISO8787; and (d) a conductive material disposed on at least one surface of the nonwoven fiber mat or throughout the nonwoven fiber mat such that when the nonwoven fiber mat is positioned adjacent the positive or negative electrode, the conductive material contacts the positive or the negative electrode, the nonwoven fiber mat having an electrical resistance of less than 100,000 ohms per square to enable electron flow the nonwoven fiber mat. (i) a positive electrode; (ii) a negative electrode; (iii) a separator positioned between the positive electrode and the negative electrode so as to electrically insulate the positive and negative electrodes; and (iv) a nonwoven fiber mat positioned adjacent the positive electrode or the negative electrode, the nonwoven fiber mat comprising: (a) a mixture of coarse glass fibers comprising: - a plurality of first glass fibers having diameters between 8 μm to 13 μm; and - a plurality of second glass fibers having diameters of at least 6 μm, the plurality of second glass fibers comprising a silane material sizing; (b) an acid resistant binder that bonds the plurality of first and second glass fibers to form the nonwoven fiber mat; (c) a wetting component applied to the nonwoven fiber mat to increase the wettability of the nonwoven fiber mat such that the nonwoven fiber mat has or exhibits an average water wick height of at least 1.0 cm after exposure to water for 10 minutes conducted according to method ISO8787; and (d) a conductive material disposed on at least one surface of the nonwoven fiber mat or throughout the nonwoven fiber mat such that when the nonwoven fiber mat is positioned adjacent the positive or negative electrode, the conductive material contacts the positive or the negative electrode, the nonwoven fiber mat having an electrical resistance of less than 100,000 ohms per square to enable electron flow the nonwoven fiber mat. (a) a mixture of coarse glass fibers comprising: - a plurality of first glass fibers having diameters between 8 μm to 13 μm; and - a plurality of second glass fibers having diameters of at least 6 μm, the plurality of second glass fibers comprising a silane material sizing; - a plurality of first glass fibers having diameters between 8 μm to 13 μm; and - a plurality of second glass fibers having diameters of at least 6 μm, the plurality of second glass fibers comprising a silane material sizing; (b) an acid resistant binder that bonds the plurality of first and second glass fibers to form the nonwoven fiber mat; (c) a wetting component applied to the nonwoven fiber mat to increase the wettability of the nonwoven fiber mat such that the nonwoven fiber mat has or exhibits an average water wick height of at least 1.0 cm after exposure to water for 10 minutes conducted according to method ISO8787; and (d) a conductive material disposed on at least one surface of the nonwoven fiber mat or throughout the nonwoven fiber mat such that when the nonwoven fiber mat is positioned adjacent the positive or negative electrode, the conductive material contacts the positive or the negative electrode, the nonwoven fiber mat having an electrical resistance of less than 100,000 ohms per square to enable electron flow the nonwoven fiber mat.