An absorptive glass mat lead-acid battery comprising: (i) a positive electrode; (ii) a negative electrode; (iii) a nonwoven fiber mat separator positioned between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the nonwoven fiber separator comprising: (a) a mixture of 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 separator; (c) a wetting component applied to the nonwoven fiber separator to increase the wettability of the nonwoven fiber separator such that the nonwoven fiber separator 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 separator such that when the nonwoven fiber separator is positioned adjacent the positive or negative electrode, the conductive material contacts the positive or the negative electrode, the nonwoven fiber separator having an electrical resistance of less than 100,000 ohms per square to enable electron flow about the nonwoven fiber separator. (i) a positive electrode; (ii) a negative electrode; (iii) a nonwoven fiber mat separator positioned between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the nonwoven fiber separator comprising: (a) a mixture of 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 separator; (c) a wetting component applied to the nonwoven fiber separator to increase the wettability of the nonwoven fiber separator such that the nonwoven fiber separator 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 separator such that when the nonwoven fiber separator is positioned adjacent the positive or negative electrode, the conductive material contacts the positive or the negative electrode, the nonwoven fiber separator having an electrical resistance of less than 100,000 ohms per square to enable electron flow about the nonwoven fiber separator. (a) a mixture of 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 separator; (c) a wetting component applied to the nonwoven fiber separator to increase the wettability of the nonwoven fiber separator such that the nonwoven fiber separator 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 separator such that when the nonwoven fiber separator is positioned adjacent the positive or negative electrode, the conductive material contacts the positive or the negative electrode, the nonwoven fiber separator having an electrical resistance of less than 100,000 ohms per square to enable electron flow about the nonwoven fiber separator.