Schneider Electric Gives Channel Partners New UPS Battery Upgrade, Services OpportunitiesSchneider Electric’s new APC Smart-UPS supports low-cost lead-acid batteries and longer-lasting lithium-ion batteries, giving customers an upgrade path for future battery chemistries and partners a way to build new services around distributed power infrastructure. Schneider Electric Monday unveiled its next-generation APC Smart-UPS, which brings what the company says is the first multi-chemistry battery technology to distributed and edge environments. As newer battery chemistries become available, Schneider Electric will also incorporate them as a battery upgrade option, Compton said. This is a lithium-ion battery that needs to be replaced in eight to 10 years.” 5 on CRN’s 2026 Solution Provider 500, said Mark Santaromita, business development manager at the Vernon Hills, Ill.-based solution provider and Schneider Electric channel partner.