LAS VEGAS-- Road warriors with depleted digital devices at the Consumer Electronics Show may want to check out a 15-minute battery recharging demonstration by Rayovac, which is running a battery first-aid station here.
The company expects to ship by September new fast-charging versions of AA and AAA batteries, which power many digital cameras, music players, and personal digital assistants like those also on display.
New Material, Tactic
The new batteries use I-C3 technology Nickel Metal Hydride, says Jerry Albright, Rayovac's divisional vice president of marketing. He says the new batteries can last up to four times longer than standard single-use alkaline batteries in certain applications, and are expected to be rechargeable up to 1000 times.NP-33 , NP-55 , NP-F330 , NP-F550 , NP-F730 , NP-F750 , NP-F930 , NP-F950 , NP-F960 , NP-F970 , NP-FM50 , NP-FM70 , NP-FP50 , NP-FP70 , NP-FP90 , NP-QM71D , NP-QM91D
Until the I-C3 technology, the battery charger itself, including Rayovac's, controlled the speed of the recharging, Albright says. However, the I-C3 NiMH technology puts that control directly into the battery top, which allows for a faster charge. The system monitors the charge in each individual battery for safety, speed, and reliability.
"Rechargables are the fastest growing segment of our market over the past couple of years as more and more consumers have more devices that use batteries," Albright says. The rechargeable-battery industry is a $5 billion market.
If you currently own a Rayovac recharging system, you need to buy a new charger to take advantage of the new batteries.
Four of the fast-charging AA batteries will cost $15, according to Rayovac. A two-position battery charger will cost $20, and a four-position charger will be priced at $35, including an adapter so the charger can plug into a car's cigarette lighter.CGA-D54S , CGA-DU07 , CGA-DU14 , CGA-DU21 , CGR-D08S , CGR-D120 , CGR-D16S , CGR-D210 , CGR-D220 , CGR-D28S , CGR-D320
Related Products
Rayovac isn't the only battery maker at the show. Lenmar Enterprises is announcing its The Mach 1 SpeedCharger line, which uses microprocessor control to deliver a rapid charge, without overcharging, by continuously monitoring and conditioning the battery.
The company says this extends battery life up to five times that of most charging systems, and substantially improves battery performance. It says the Lenmar Lithium-Ion camcorder and digital camera batteries will recharge in less than 30 minutes, three times faster than traditional chargers.BP-930 , BP-945 , BN-V12U , BN-V22U , BN-V25U , BN-V306U , BN-V312U , BN-V408U , BN-V416U , BN-V428U ,BN-VF707U , BN-VF714U , BN-VF733U
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Explosive Notebooks
Steve Bass writes PC World's monthly "Hassle-Free PC" column and is the author of PC Annoyances, 2nd Edition: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things About Your Personal Computer, available from O'Reilly. He also writes PC World's daily Tips & Tweaks blog. Sign up to have Steve's newsletter e-mailed to you each week. Comments or questions? Send Steve e-mail.
Update: At press time, Dell and the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntarily--and massive--recall of over 4.1 million lithium ion batteries manufactured by Sony. (Okay, so we don't use a press for this online column, but you get the idea.)
As you'll read later, some of Dell's batteries have erupted into flames.PA3291U-1BRS, PA3307U-1BRS , PA3356U-1BRS , PA3383U-1BRS , PA3384U-1BRS , PA3395U-1BRS , PA3399U-1BRS
If you want to find out if your battery's one that's being recalled, check the list of computers on Dell's site. If it's easier for you, call 866/342-0011. In the meantime, Dell advises you to turn off your notebook, remove the battery, and use the AC adapter to power the system.--Steve
I first wrote off the report of a Dell notebook bursting into flames as a typical urban legend. No such luck. A laptop did indeed burst into flames in June at a conference in Japan. The story was on the International Herald Tribune's site and YahooNews--honestly, it was. The link's dead now, so read the one saved in Google's cache. Gizmodo has some pictures.
And the kicker is, it happened again about a month later. Read about it on Tomshardware Forumz. [Thanks for the tip, Robert D.]
Wait! You want yet another kicker? Try the exploding laptop in Singapore. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the owner thought it was a fluke. In a blog post he goes on to say that the only Dell rep that contacted him was from the company's legal department.
Dig This: Here's a funny commercial that'll give you a quick chuckle.
On the Record: Dell Doesn't DenyI called Dell spokeswoman Anne Camden for a comment. (You didn't think I had such great connections, right? Anne was surprised too.)229783-001 , 232633-001 , 250848-B25 , Evo N600C , Evo N610C , Evo N620C , 182281-001 , 190336-001 , 191169-001 , 191259-B21 , 192835-001 , 198709-001 , 200002-001 , 234219-B21 , 239551-001 , 240258-001 , Presario 900 Presario 1500, Evo N1000V , Evo N1000C , Presario 1700 319411-001 Presario 2100 Presario 2500
I tried wheedling her for a bombshell. I wanted some dirt. And I could almost hear her thinking, "No way, Bass." She stuck to her corporate line:
"Dell meets or exceeds battery specs for over 20 countries worldwide. They [batteries] are designed to increase safety by incorporating failsafe features to stop overcharging."
She wasn't finished.
"Suppliers are geared to the same stringent standards and high priority on evaluating and investigation of the safety concerns of both batteries and products."
What about the incident in Japan? I asked, fishing for some culpability.
"[We have] the notebook and battery. [It was a] lithium ion battery and the initial investigation shows a problem with one of the cells. We're absolutely concerned and relieved that no one was hurt in the incident," she said.A1008 , A1012 , A1022 , A1039 , A1045 , A1057 , A1060 , A1061 , A1078 , A1079 , A1148 , A1175 , A1185 , M8244G PowerBook G4 BATCL50L TravelMate 290 Aspire 9500 BTP-58A1 BTP-60A1 SQ-1100 SQ-2100 BTP-63D1 LCBTP03003 LC.BTP03.003
She also explained that the majority of notebooks and cell phones use lithium ion batteries. Notebook batteries typically have six cells, but may have as many as nine.
So much for my interviewing skills.
Dig This: Can your dog play "Simon Says"? Mine can't, either--but he sure knows when the UPS truck is coming by the house. [Warning: Turn your volume way down.]
Not New: Exploding BatteriesThe problem isn't new. We reported on battery problems three years ago and again late last year; read "Mobile Battery Problems Explode" and "Dell Recalls Laptop Batteries" for details.
Of course, Dell's not the only manufacturer suffering from battery problems. Nikon had a recall in December, and according to a report by WCCO, a CBS affiliate in Minneapolis, the battery in a Mac notebook caught fire in May; WCCO also reports that there have been about 43 incidents of batteries catching fire in the last two years.BP-511 , BP-511A , BP-512 , NB-1L , NB-1LH , NB-2L , NB-2LH , NB-3L , NB-4L , NB-5H , NB-5L , NP-E3 , NP-FC10 , NP-FC11 , NP-FE1
Dig This: It's Friday and you want to go home early. Your boss says no. Visualize your boss and grab the tweezers. [Thanks, David.]
The Hazards of Notebook BatteriesOkay, so all this was making me a bit nervous, so I did some research to reassure myself that this exploding battery thing isn't really a big deal. Maybe those incidents I heard about were just freak accidents. But the more digging I did, the more I found out that portable batteries are even more dangerous than I'd imagined.
I contacted the Portable Rechargeable Battery Association for information on safe handling of batteries. Like so many trade associations, it didn't offer much I could use. The association's site does have a FAQ with safety advice, but it would only be useful if I were planning to ship lithium ion batteries.NP-FR1 , NP-FS10 , NP-FS11 , NP-FS12 , NP-FS20 , NP-FS21 , NP-FT1 , EN-EL1 , EN-EL2 , EN-EL3 , EN-EL4 , EN-EL5 , EN-EL8 , EN-EL9
I found a few good sources of general information, though. For some background, read Charlie Demerjian's "The INQUIRER Guide to Exploding Batteries." For details on what lithium ion batteries are made of, how they work, and what they're used for, read Wikipedia's entry on the topic. You might want also want to plow through a white paper on MPower Solutions' site.
Dig This: You may still see old AOL promotional CDs at, well, practically everywhere. Some of you might even have a collection of the discs. Here's one thing you can do with them.
Safety TipsThere are a couple critical ways to safely use any lithium battery:
It's essential that you use the charger that's specifically designed for your battery. Use the wrong charger and there's a chance you can overcharge the battery. Keep the battery--and your notebook--as cool as possible. Don't store the notebook in the trunk of your car. When you're using it for long periods of time, get a cooling tray. Li-10B , Li-12B , Li-40B , Li-42B , BLM1 , NP-20 , NP-30 , NP-40 , DB-L20 , NP-120 , NP-40 , NP-60 , NP-80
Update: At press time, Dell and the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntarily--and massive--recall of over 4.1 million lithium ion batteries manufactured by Sony. (Okay, so we don't use a press for this online column, but you get the idea.)
As you'll read later, some of Dell's batteries have erupted into flames.PA3291U-1BRS, PA3307U-1BRS , PA3356U-1BRS , PA3383U-1BRS , PA3384U-1BRS , PA3395U-1BRS , PA3399U-1BRS
If you want to find out if your battery's one that's being recalled, check the list of computers on Dell's site. If it's easier for you, call 866/342-0011. In the meantime, Dell advises you to turn off your notebook, remove the battery, and use the AC adapter to power the system.--Steve
I first wrote off the report of a Dell notebook bursting into flames as a typical urban legend. No such luck. A laptop did indeed burst into flames in June at a conference in Japan. The story was on the International Herald Tribune's site and YahooNews--honestly, it was. The link's dead now, so read the one saved in Google's cache. Gizmodo has some pictures.
And the kicker is, it happened again about a month later. Read about it on Tomshardware Forumz. [Thanks for the tip, Robert D.]
Wait! You want yet another kicker? Try the exploding laptop in Singapore. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the owner thought it was a fluke. In a blog post he goes on to say that the only Dell rep that contacted him was from the company's legal department.
Dig This: Here's a funny commercial that'll give you a quick chuckle.
On the Record: Dell Doesn't DenyI called Dell spokeswoman Anne Camden for a comment. (You didn't think I had such great connections, right? Anne was surprised too.)229783-001 , 232633-001 , 250848-B25 , Evo N600C , Evo N610C , Evo N620C , 182281-001 , 190336-001 , 191169-001 , 191259-B21 , 192835-001 , 198709-001 , 200002-001 , 234219-B21 , 239551-001 , 240258-001 , Presario 900 Presario 1500, Evo N1000V , Evo N1000C , Presario 1700 319411-001 Presario 2100 Presario 2500
I tried wheedling her for a bombshell. I wanted some dirt. And I could almost hear her thinking, "No way, Bass." She stuck to her corporate line:
"Dell meets or exceeds battery specs for over 20 countries worldwide. They [batteries] are designed to increase safety by incorporating failsafe features to stop overcharging."
She wasn't finished.
"Suppliers are geared to the same stringent standards and high priority on evaluating and investigation of the safety concerns of both batteries and products."
What about the incident in Japan? I asked, fishing for some culpability.
"[We have] the notebook and battery. [It was a] lithium ion battery and the initial investigation shows a problem with one of the cells. We're absolutely concerned and relieved that no one was hurt in the incident," she said.A1008 , A1012 , A1022 , A1039 , A1045 , A1057 , A1060 , A1061 , A1078 , A1079 , A1148 , A1175 , A1185 , M8244G PowerBook G4 BATCL50L TravelMate 290 Aspire 9500 BTP-58A1 BTP-60A1 SQ-1100 SQ-2100 BTP-63D1 LCBTP03003 LC.BTP03.003
She also explained that the majority of notebooks and cell phones use lithium ion batteries. Notebook batteries typically have six cells, but may have as many as nine.
So much for my interviewing skills.
Dig This: Can your dog play "Simon Says"? Mine can't, either--but he sure knows when the UPS truck is coming by the house. [Warning: Turn your volume way down.]
Not New: Exploding BatteriesThe problem isn't new. We reported on battery problems three years ago and again late last year; read "Mobile Battery Problems Explode" and "Dell Recalls Laptop Batteries" for details.
Of course, Dell's not the only manufacturer suffering from battery problems. Nikon had a recall in December, and according to a report by WCCO, a CBS affiliate in Minneapolis, the battery in a Mac notebook caught fire in May; WCCO also reports that there have been about 43 incidents of batteries catching fire in the last two years.BP-511 , BP-511A , BP-512 , NB-1L , NB-1LH , NB-2L , NB-2LH , NB-3L , NB-4L , NB-5H , NB-5L , NP-E3 , NP-FC10 , NP-FC11 , NP-FE1
Dig This: It's Friday and you want to go home early. Your boss says no. Visualize your boss and grab the tweezers. [Thanks, David.]
The Hazards of Notebook BatteriesOkay, so all this was making me a bit nervous, so I did some research to reassure myself that this exploding battery thing isn't really a big deal. Maybe those incidents I heard about were just freak accidents. But the more digging I did, the more I found out that portable batteries are even more dangerous than I'd imagined.
I contacted the Portable Rechargeable Battery Association for information on safe handling of batteries. Like so many trade associations, it didn't offer much I could use. The association's site does have a FAQ with safety advice, but it would only be useful if I were planning to ship lithium ion batteries.NP-FR1 , NP-FS10 , NP-FS11 , NP-FS12 , NP-FS20 , NP-FS21 , NP-FT1 , EN-EL1 , EN-EL2 , EN-EL3 , EN-EL4 , EN-EL5 , EN-EL8 , EN-EL9
I found a few good sources of general information, though. For some background, read Charlie Demerjian's "The INQUIRER Guide to Exploding Batteries." For details on what lithium ion batteries are made of, how they work, and what they're used for, read Wikipedia's entry on the topic. You might want also want to plow through a white paper on MPower Solutions' site.
Dig This: You may still see old AOL promotional CDs at, well, practically everywhere. Some of you might even have a collection of the discs. Here's one thing you can do with them.
Safety TipsThere are a couple critical ways to safely use any lithium battery:
It's essential that you use the charger that's specifically designed for your battery. Use the wrong charger and there's a chance you can overcharge the battery. Keep the battery--and your notebook--as cool as possible. Don't store the notebook in the trunk of your car. When you're using it for long periods of time, get a cooling tray. Li-10B , Li-12B , Li-40B , Li-42B , BLM1 , NP-20 , NP-30 , NP-40 , DB-L20 , NP-120 , NP-40 , NP-60 , NP-80
Powering Up a New Breed of Batteries
No matter how portable gadgets become there's a time when they all must come back to earth: recharging time.
As a result, the quest for longer battery life still occupies much development time. For proof, just look at new technologies for mobile devices. Whether they are screens, processors, storage or other components, they usually share the advantage of lower power consumption.
Longer Life for LithiumMuch of the development work is focused on making batteries based on current technologies, such as lithium ion, last longer, and an increasing amount of time is being spent looking into new technologies such as fuel cells. Pavilion ZE2000 Pavilion DV1000 , 411462-421 , 417066-001 , EX941AA , HSTNN-LB31 , EV088AA , Pavilion dv2000 Pavilion dv6000
"Lithium ion has been improving at a rate of about 9 percent per year since a decade ago when Sony introduced the first" battery based on this technology, says Ric Fulop, co-founder of A123 Systems, a start-up that's developed a high-power battery. The company has attracted investments from Qualcomm and Motorola. Although it's initially focusing on high-current devices such as power tools, it sees opportunities in the electronics sector.
Fulop says lithium ion capacities have increased from around 2.2Ah (ampere hours) a few years ago to about 2.6Ah, and there's room for continued improvement.
Representatives of Japan's Matsushita Battery Industrial said earlier this year that the company is working with Intel on a lithium ion battery that will have a capacity of 2.9Ah. Scheduled to be available in April, it should keep a laptop running for about eight hours.
However, there are limits to the technology, Fulop says. 361742-001 , 371785-001 , 371786-001 , 383615-001 , 916-2150 , F4098A , F4809A , F4812A , , HSTNN-IB04 , HSTNN-UB02 , HSTNN-DB02 , 346970-001 , 350836-001 , DP390A , DP399A
"You are reaching the limits and it's not going to get much better," he says. Making a better battery means messing with materials and that's a battle against nature. "You don't have the same capability with materials science as Moore's Law. That's why the rate of improvement has only been 9 percent per year." Companies also are working on speedier recharging so devices are up and running again faster.
Toshiba's ProjectsToshiba has developed a prototype lithium ion battery that can absorb about 80 percent of the battery's total power capacity in about one minute. That's much faster than the typical charging rate of 2 percent to 3 percent of total capacity per minute. The new battery could make it possible to quickly bring a dead laptop back to life.
Although lithium ion remains the king in portable gadgets, one of the most talked-about new technologies is the fuel cell. These create electricity from a simple reaction, typically that of a methanol and water mixture and air. They're generating interest because they can provide a relatively large amount of power from a small amount of inexpensive fuel and are environmentally friendlier than other batteries. Presario R3000 , HP PP2200 Series , HP PP2210 Series , Pavilion ZV5000 , Pavilion ZV5200 Presario V2000 Presario V4000 Presario M2000 , F2299A , F3172A , Pavilion ZT1000
Both Toshiba and NEC have demonstrated direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) for use with laptop computers. A prototype unveiled by Toshiba at this year's Cebit show in Germany could power a small laptop for ten hours before it required a recharge in the form of a squirt of methanol, similar to the way a cigarette lighter is refueled. The Toshiba DMFC can provide about 20 watts of power, as can a similar prototype from NEC.
Lenovo and Sanyo also are working on a DMFC-based prototype, but plan to combine the fuel cell with a conventional lithium ion battery. The fuel cell keeps the battery charged when the computer isn't working under load, and the battery releases this power when the system demands more than the 12 watts the DMFC can provide. Such a hybrid power source offers the best initial solution for DMFCs until technology improves, Sanyo says.
DMFCs also win over lithium ion in other areas, says Jim Balcom, president and CEO of PolyFuel. The company supplies DMFC membranes to many of the major companies in the field. "Lithium ion batteries don't do very well from a durability aspect," he says. "Most tend to decline to the point where, after a year or two, the energy capacity drops to about 80% of the original level and then falls quite steeply." PolyFuel has tested DMFCs based on its membranes that last 5,000 hours and is working on membranes that last longer.
Choosing HydrogenNot all fuel cell research is focused on DMFCs. Some companies are looking at fuel cells that use hydrogen instead of methanol, because they can deliver more power relative to size. This can be measured as the energy density. 338794-001 , 342661-001 , 345027-001 , DM842A , PP2182D , PP2182L , Pavilion ZD7200 , Pavilion ZD7100 , Pavilion ZD7000 , PB991A , PB992A , PB994A
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone's (NTT) prototype hydrogen fuel cell has an energy density of 200 milliwatts per square centimeter: That means about nine hours of talk time for a 3G phone from the device, which is about the size of a pack of playing cards.
In contrast, the DMFCs demonstrated with laptop PCs have an energy density of about 70 milliwatts per square centimeter, and lithium ion batteries used in modern cell phones are about 160 milliwatts per square centimeter, according to NTT.
The high energy density also has pushed Canon into hydrogen fuel-cell development for digital still cameras. It has a prototype that matches the power of lithium ion batteries; the company's research goal is a fuel cell that offers between three and five times this amount of power.
Despite all this work and many demonstrations of working prototypes, fuel cells are not mere months away from commercialization.
"One of the biggest challenges is lack of standardization," says Sara Bradford, research manager for Frost & Sullivan's power supplies and batteries group in Dallas. Major vendors are using different types and amounts of fuel to power batteries of different sizes.
"This all just adds to the confusion for the average consumer," she says.
Other EffortsTalks have begun on issues such as common refills, but agreement is yet to be reached. There also are regulatory hold-ups. Methanol is a highly flammable liquid, and carrying it on aircraft is highly regulated. As current regulations stand, it's impossible for passengers to carry on DMFCs--let alone use them in aircraft cabins. Hydrogen also has its problems, because the fuel has to be stored in compressed canisters, which require clearance for air travel, so commercialization is on hold. The International Air Transport Association is working on regulations that would allow DMFCs to be carried or used on planes, but they aren't expected to be complete until at least 2007. PCGA-BP2NX , PCGA-BP2NY , PCGA-BP2R , PCGA-BP2V , PCGA-BP71 , PCGA-BP71A , PCGA-BPZ51 , PCGA-BPZ52 , VGP-BPS2 ,VGP-BPS3 ,VGP-BPS4 , VGP-BPS5
Commercialization for military or industrial use will come before consumer use, with the military leading the pack, Bradford says. "They have the means to do it. Obviously, they have a lot of money to invest, but it also really revolves around the demand."
PolyFuel's Balcom agrees. He expects to see military and industrial fuel cells on the market in 2006 and 2007, with the first consumer products on sale a year later. Start-up Medis Technologies says it has a fuel cell that doesn't face the same regulatory or standardization problems. The company has developed a disposable alkaline-based fuel cell that it says is efficient, safe and inexpensive. It hopes to commercialize the cell, which will cost around $8 in bulk, in early 2006.
The device won't replace the existing rechargeable batteries in portable devices, but is intended to be used as a portable recharging station for times when the battery dies and a power socket isn't nearby. The Medis unit can charge an average cell phone about six to eight times, or provide power for 20 to 30 hours of talk time before its fuel is spent. It can't be replenished.
Built-in LimitsBut no matter what happens with battery technology, perhaps the life of a laptop will never move much beyond eight hours. "The notebook guys don't want to give you more than eight hours," A123 Systems' Fulop says.
Battery lifetime is usually decided ahead of time, because PC makers fix the power consumption and battery life of their machines before they shop for a battery. Changes come only in the amount of power consumed per hour as better and more-energy-hungry components are fitted into the machines. PA2487UR ,PA3107U-1BRS ,PA3166U-1BRS , PA3178U-1BRS , PA3191U-1BRS , PA3250U-1BRS ,PA3285U-1BRS
As a result, the quest for longer battery life still occupies much development time. For proof, just look at new technologies for mobile devices. Whether they are screens, processors, storage or other components, they usually share the advantage of lower power consumption.
Longer Life for LithiumMuch of the development work is focused on making batteries based on current technologies, such as lithium ion, last longer, and an increasing amount of time is being spent looking into new technologies such as fuel cells. Pavilion ZE2000 Pavilion DV1000 , 411462-421 , 417066-001 , EX941AA , HSTNN-LB31 , EV088AA , Pavilion dv2000 Pavilion dv6000
"Lithium ion has been improving at a rate of about 9 percent per year since a decade ago when Sony introduced the first" battery based on this technology, says Ric Fulop, co-founder of A123 Systems, a start-up that's developed a high-power battery. The company has attracted investments from Qualcomm and Motorola. Although it's initially focusing on high-current devices such as power tools, it sees opportunities in the electronics sector.
Fulop says lithium ion capacities have increased from around 2.2Ah (ampere hours) a few years ago to about 2.6Ah, and there's room for continued improvement.
Representatives of Japan's Matsushita Battery Industrial said earlier this year that the company is working with Intel on a lithium ion battery that will have a capacity of 2.9Ah. Scheduled to be available in April, it should keep a laptop running for about eight hours.
However, there are limits to the technology, Fulop says. 361742-001 , 371785-001 , 371786-001 , 383615-001 , 916-2150 , F4098A , F4809A , F4812A , , HSTNN-IB04 , HSTNN-UB02 , HSTNN-DB02 , 346970-001 , 350836-001 , DP390A , DP399A
"You are reaching the limits and it's not going to get much better," he says. Making a better battery means messing with materials and that's a battle against nature. "You don't have the same capability with materials science as Moore's Law. That's why the rate of improvement has only been 9 percent per year." Companies also are working on speedier recharging so devices are up and running again faster.
Toshiba's ProjectsToshiba has developed a prototype lithium ion battery that can absorb about 80 percent of the battery's total power capacity in about one minute. That's much faster than the typical charging rate of 2 percent to 3 percent of total capacity per minute. The new battery could make it possible to quickly bring a dead laptop back to life.
Although lithium ion remains the king in portable gadgets, one of the most talked-about new technologies is the fuel cell. These create electricity from a simple reaction, typically that of a methanol and water mixture and air. They're generating interest because they can provide a relatively large amount of power from a small amount of inexpensive fuel and are environmentally friendlier than other batteries. Presario R3000 , HP PP2200 Series , HP PP2210 Series , Pavilion ZV5000 , Pavilion ZV5200 Presario V2000 Presario V4000 Presario M2000 , F2299A , F3172A , Pavilion ZT1000
Both Toshiba and NEC have demonstrated direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) for use with laptop computers. A prototype unveiled by Toshiba at this year's Cebit show in Germany could power a small laptop for ten hours before it required a recharge in the form of a squirt of methanol, similar to the way a cigarette lighter is refueled. The Toshiba DMFC can provide about 20 watts of power, as can a similar prototype from NEC.
Lenovo and Sanyo also are working on a DMFC-based prototype, but plan to combine the fuel cell with a conventional lithium ion battery. The fuel cell keeps the battery charged when the computer isn't working under load, and the battery releases this power when the system demands more than the 12 watts the DMFC can provide. Such a hybrid power source offers the best initial solution for DMFCs until technology improves, Sanyo says.
DMFCs also win over lithium ion in other areas, says Jim Balcom, president and CEO of PolyFuel. The company supplies DMFC membranes to many of the major companies in the field. "Lithium ion batteries don't do very well from a durability aspect," he says. "Most tend to decline to the point where, after a year or two, the energy capacity drops to about 80% of the original level and then falls quite steeply." PolyFuel has tested DMFCs based on its membranes that last 5,000 hours and is working on membranes that last longer.
Choosing HydrogenNot all fuel cell research is focused on DMFCs. Some companies are looking at fuel cells that use hydrogen instead of methanol, because they can deliver more power relative to size. This can be measured as the energy density. 338794-001 , 342661-001 , 345027-001 , DM842A , PP2182D , PP2182L , Pavilion ZD7200 , Pavilion ZD7100 , Pavilion ZD7000 , PB991A , PB992A , PB994A
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone's (NTT) prototype hydrogen fuel cell has an energy density of 200 milliwatts per square centimeter: That means about nine hours of talk time for a 3G phone from the device, which is about the size of a pack of playing cards.
In contrast, the DMFCs demonstrated with laptop PCs have an energy density of about 70 milliwatts per square centimeter, and lithium ion batteries used in modern cell phones are about 160 milliwatts per square centimeter, according to NTT.
The high energy density also has pushed Canon into hydrogen fuel-cell development for digital still cameras. It has a prototype that matches the power of lithium ion batteries; the company's research goal is a fuel cell that offers between three and five times this amount of power.
Despite all this work and many demonstrations of working prototypes, fuel cells are not mere months away from commercialization.
"One of the biggest challenges is lack of standardization," says Sara Bradford, research manager for Frost & Sullivan's power supplies and batteries group in Dallas. Major vendors are using different types and amounts of fuel to power batteries of different sizes.
"This all just adds to the confusion for the average consumer," she says.
Other EffortsTalks have begun on issues such as common refills, but agreement is yet to be reached. There also are regulatory hold-ups. Methanol is a highly flammable liquid, and carrying it on aircraft is highly regulated. As current regulations stand, it's impossible for passengers to carry on DMFCs--let alone use them in aircraft cabins. Hydrogen also has its problems, because the fuel has to be stored in compressed canisters, which require clearance for air travel, so commercialization is on hold. The International Air Transport Association is working on regulations that would allow DMFCs to be carried or used on planes, but they aren't expected to be complete until at least 2007. PCGA-BP2NX , PCGA-BP2NY , PCGA-BP2R , PCGA-BP2V , PCGA-BP71 , PCGA-BP71A , PCGA-BPZ51 , PCGA-BPZ52 , VGP-BPS2 ,VGP-BPS3 ,VGP-BPS4 , VGP-BPS5
Commercialization for military or industrial use will come before consumer use, with the military leading the pack, Bradford says. "They have the means to do it. Obviously, they have a lot of money to invest, but it also really revolves around the demand."
PolyFuel's Balcom agrees. He expects to see military and industrial fuel cells on the market in 2006 and 2007, with the first consumer products on sale a year later. Start-up Medis Technologies says it has a fuel cell that doesn't face the same regulatory or standardization problems. The company has developed a disposable alkaline-based fuel cell that it says is efficient, safe and inexpensive. It hopes to commercialize the cell, which will cost around $8 in bulk, in early 2006.
The device won't replace the existing rechargeable batteries in portable devices, but is intended to be used as a portable recharging station for times when the battery dies and a power socket isn't nearby. The Medis unit can charge an average cell phone about six to eight times, or provide power for 20 to 30 hours of talk time before its fuel is spent. It can't be replenished.
Built-in LimitsBut no matter what happens with battery technology, perhaps the life of a laptop will never move much beyond eight hours. "The notebook guys don't want to give you more than eight hours," A123 Systems' Fulop says.
Battery lifetime is usually decided ahead of time, because PC makers fix the power consumption and battery life of their machines before they shop for a battery. Changes come only in the amount of power consumed per hour as better and more-energy-hungry components are fitted into the machines. PA2487UR ,PA3107U-1BRS ,PA3166U-1BRS , PA3178U-1BRS , PA3191U-1BRS , PA3250U-1BRS ,PA3285U-1BRS
Sanyo Sales up on Strong Demand for Solar Cell, Battery
Japan's Sanyo Electric recorded sales in the April to September period that were 4 percent ahead of its own target on the back of strong demand for its solar cells and rechargeable batteries, it said Wednesday.
The better-than-predicted results come as many of its competitors in the Japanese electronics sector are reporting lower sales because of weak demand for products and the strong Japanese yen. Sanyo said sales in the six months were ¥1 trillion (US$10 billion), which is also 3 percent ahead of last year. ThinkPad R50P , ThinkPad T43 ,ThinkPad T42P ,ThinkPad T41P , ThinkPad T41 , ThinkPad T40P , ThinkPad T40 , , ThinkPad R52 , ThinkPad R51 , ThinkPad T43P ,ThinkPad R50e , ThinkPad R50
The company hasn't been able to totally escape the downturn in the industry and costs associated with restructuring of its mobile phone business pushed net profit down a few percent from its previous forecast to ¥33 billion. However that's still more than double what it managed to achive last year.
Sanyo is the world's largest manufacturer of rechargable batteries and has made big bets on green-energy technology such as solar cells and solar modules.
During the six months sales of batteries rose 20 percent and those of solar systems jumped 37 percent. Together the two businesses made up a quarter of all sales during the period. In contrast Sanyo saw double-digit percentage drops in sales in its air conditioner, semiconductor and optical pickup businesses. FRU 92P1139 , FRU 92P1137, FRU 92P1141 , ASM 92P1140 , 40Y6795 , 41N5666 , 40Y6799 , 40Y6797 , ThinkPad R60 , ThinkPad R60e , ThinkPad T60 , ThinkPad T60p , 367759-001 , HSTNN-IB09 , PF723A , PM579A , , Pavilion DV4000 , Pavilion DV5000
The better-than-predicted results come as many of its competitors in the Japanese electronics sector are reporting lower sales because of weak demand for products and the strong Japanese yen. Sanyo said sales in the six months were ¥1 trillion (US$10 billion), which is also 3 percent ahead of last year. ThinkPad R50P , ThinkPad T43 ,ThinkPad T42P ,ThinkPad T41P , ThinkPad T41 , ThinkPad T40P , ThinkPad T40 , , ThinkPad R52 , ThinkPad R51 , ThinkPad T43P ,ThinkPad R50e , ThinkPad R50
The company hasn't been able to totally escape the downturn in the industry and costs associated with restructuring of its mobile phone business pushed net profit down a few percent from its previous forecast to ¥33 billion. However that's still more than double what it managed to achive last year.
Sanyo is the world's largest manufacturer of rechargable batteries and has made big bets on green-energy technology such as solar cells and solar modules.
During the six months sales of batteries rose 20 percent and those of solar systems jumped 37 percent. Together the two businesses made up a quarter of all sales during the period. In contrast Sanyo saw double-digit percentage drops in sales in its air conditioner, semiconductor and optical pickup businesses. FRU 92P1139 , FRU 92P1137, FRU 92P1141 , ASM 92P1140 , 40Y6795 , 41N5666 , 40Y6799 , 40Y6797 , ThinkPad R60 , ThinkPad R60e , ThinkPad T60 , ThinkPad T60p , 367759-001 , HSTNN-IB09 , PF723A , PM579A , , Pavilion DV4000 , Pavilion DV5000
IV Extends IPhone Battery, Adds Flash, Bluetooth Charger
FastMac has announced that it is shipping the iV, a three-in one charging kit for the iPhone. It costs US$79.95.
The iV provides extended battery life -- up to three times as much, according to FastMac. What's more, it also incorporates a built-in LED for illuminating pictures taken with the iPhone's built in camera (it doubles as a flashlight in low-light settings), along with a charger for boosting the battery life of your Bluetooth headset.
FastMac claims the iV paired to an iPhone provides up to 24 hours of talk time, 31 days of standby, more than 20 hours of video playback and 72 hours of audio playback time.
The iV connects to the iPhone's dock connector and cradles the iPhone (separate versions are available for the iPhone and iPhone 3G). A full-sized USB port is built in, so it can power up a Bluetooth headset, digital camera or other device that recharges using USB power. The case is molded out of a soft-touch non-slip material. The bottom is contoured so the iPhone can still be docked and charged inside Apple's own iPhone Dock and Universal dock; it incorporates speaker chambers that reflect the iPhone's sound up and out towards the listener.FRU 08K8193 , 93P5002 , 93P5003 , 92P1060 , 92P1011 , 08K8214 , 08K8195 , 08K8193 , 08K8192 , 92P1101 , 92P1089 , 92P1087 , 08K8194 , 92P1071 , 08K8196 , FRU 92P1069 , FRU 08K8214, 92P1102 , 92P1077 , 92P1073 , 92P1061, 08K8201 , 08K8199 , 08K8198 , 08K8197 , 92P1075
The iV provides extended battery life -- up to three times as much, according to FastMac. What's more, it also incorporates a built-in LED for illuminating pictures taken with the iPhone's built in camera (it doubles as a flashlight in low-light settings), along with a charger for boosting the battery life of your Bluetooth headset.
FastMac claims the iV paired to an iPhone provides up to 24 hours of talk time, 31 days of standby, more than 20 hours of video playback and 72 hours of audio playback time.
The iV connects to the iPhone's dock connector and cradles the iPhone (separate versions are available for the iPhone and iPhone 3G). A full-sized USB port is built in, so it can power up a Bluetooth headset, digital camera or other device that recharges using USB power. The case is molded out of a soft-touch non-slip material. The bottom is contoured so the iPhone can still be docked and charged inside Apple's own iPhone Dock and Universal dock; it incorporates speaker chambers that reflect the iPhone's sound up and out towards the listener.FRU 08K8193 , 93P5002 , 93P5003 , 92P1060 , 92P1011 , 08K8214 , 08K8195 , 08K8193 , 08K8192 , 92P1101 , 92P1089 , 92P1087 , 08K8194 , 92P1071 , 08K8196 , FRU 92P1069 , FRU 08K8214, 92P1102 , 92P1077 , 92P1073 , 92P1061, 08K8201 , 08K8199 , 08K8198 , 08K8197 , 92P1075
Fire Hazard Risk Prompts Giant Dell Laptop Battery Recall
Computer maker Dell today said it will recall 4.1 million laptop computer batteries because of a potential fire hazard. It's reportedly one of the largest consumer electronics recalls in history.
The lithium-ion batteries being recalled are installed in 2.7 million laptops sold in the United States and 1.4 million sold overseas between April 2004 and July 18 of this year, Dell said.
"Under rare conditions, it is possible for these batteries to overheat, which could cause a risk of fire," Dell said in a statement. The comapany said the overheating was caused by a manufacturing defect in batteries made for it by Sony.YD624 , XD736 , MM165 , GX047 , FF232 , DF249 , YD626 , DF230 , Latitude D830 , Latitude D820
Customers may continue to use the laptop computers safely by turning the system off, ejecting the battery, and using the AC adapter and power cord to power the system until the replacement battery is received, the company said.
Models Affected
The recalled batteries were sold with the following Dell notebook computers: Dell Latitude D410, D500, D505, D510, D520, D600, D610, D620, D800, D810; Inspiron 6000, 8500, 8600, 9100, 9200, 9300, 500m, 510m, 600m, 6400, E1505, 700m, 710m, 9400, E1705; and Dell Precision M20, M60, M70 and M90 mobile workstations; and XPS, XPS Gen2, XPS M170 and XPS M1710.
The batteries were also sold separately, including in response to service calls. The words "Dell" and one of the following are printed on the batteries: "Made in Japan" or "Made in China" or "Battery Cell Made in Japan Assembled in China," Dell said.
Dell urged customers to visit the firm's Web site beginning at 1 a.m. U.S. Central Daylight Time Tuesday or call toll-free at 1-866-342-0011, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT. Dell is headquartered in Round Rock, Texas, near Austin.U4873 , G5266 , D5318 , F5635 , G5260 , 312-0350 , YF976 , C5974 ,Inspiron 6000 , Inspiron 9200 , Inspiron 9300 , Inspiron 9400
In past instances of battery recall, Dell and the CPSC urged consumers to stop using the laptops' batteries until they received a replacement. Lithium-ion batteries also are used in cell phones, camcorders, digital cameras and other consumer electronics products.
Dell said it is cooperating with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in conducting the recall. The federal agency described it as the largest recall in the history of the consumer electronics industry, according to published reports.
According to the CPSC, lithium-ion batteries have been cited in recalls of other laptop models, including computers from Hewlett-Packard and from Apple Computer.
Other Recent Laptop Battery Recalls
Dell made other voluntary recalls of 22,000 laptop batteries in December 2005, 284,000 in 2001 and 27,000 in 2000, according to the CPSC.
Dell reported six instances in which laptops overheated and caused fires since December of last year, although no one was injured in any of the incidents, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal reported today. UD264 , TD349 , TD347 , TD344 , RD859 , RD857 , RD850 , PD946 , PD942 , UD265 , UD267 , 312-0427 , XU937 ,GD761 , KD476 , PD945 , PR002 , RD855 , UD260 , Inspiron 6400
The lithium-ion batteries being recalled are installed in 2.7 million laptops sold in the United States and 1.4 million sold overseas between April 2004 and July 18 of this year, Dell said.
"Under rare conditions, it is possible for these batteries to overheat, which could cause a risk of fire," Dell said in a statement. The comapany said the overheating was caused by a manufacturing defect in batteries made for it by Sony.YD624 , XD736 , MM165 , GX047 , FF232 , DF249 , YD626 , DF230 , Latitude D830 , Latitude D820
Customers may continue to use the laptop computers safely by turning the system off, ejecting the battery, and using the AC adapter and power cord to power the system until the replacement battery is received, the company said.
Models Affected
The recalled batteries were sold with the following Dell notebook computers: Dell Latitude D410, D500, D505, D510, D520, D600, D610, D620, D800, D810; Inspiron 6000, 8500, 8600, 9100, 9200, 9300, 500m, 510m, 600m, 6400, E1505, 700m, 710m, 9400, E1705; and Dell Precision M20, M60, M70 and M90 mobile workstations; and XPS, XPS Gen2, XPS M170 and XPS M1710.
The batteries were also sold separately, including in response to service calls. The words "Dell" and one of the following are printed on the batteries: "Made in Japan" or "Made in China" or "Battery Cell Made in Japan Assembled in China," Dell said.
Dell urged customers to visit the firm's Web site beginning at 1 a.m. U.S. Central Daylight Time Tuesday or call toll-free at 1-866-342-0011, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT. Dell is headquartered in Round Rock, Texas, near Austin.U4873 , G5266 , D5318 , F5635 , G5260 , 312-0350 , YF976 , C5974 ,Inspiron 6000 , Inspiron 9200 , Inspiron 9300 , Inspiron 9400
In past instances of battery recall, Dell and the CPSC urged consumers to stop using the laptops' batteries until they received a replacement. Lithium-ion batteries also are used in cell phones, camcorders, digital cameras and other consumer electronics products.
Dell said it is cooperating with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in conducting the recall. The federal agency described it as the largest recall in the history of the consumer electronics industry, according to published reports.
According to the CPSC, lithium-ion batteries have been cited in recalls of other laptop models, including computers from Hewlett-Packard and from Apple Computer.
Other Recent Laptop Battery Recalls
Dell made other voluntary recalls of 22,000 laptop batteries in December 2005, 284,000 in 2001 and 27,000 in 2000, according to the CPSC.
Dell reported six instances in which laptops overheated and caused fires since December of last year, although no one was injured in any of the incidents, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal reported today. UD264 , TD349 , TD347 , TD344 , RD859 , RD857 , RD850 , PD946 , PD942 , UD265 , UD267 , 312-0427 , XU937 ,GD761 , KD476 , PD945 , PR002 , RD855 , UD260 , Inspiron 6400
NEC Develops Organic Battery For IT Use
TOKYO-- NEC researchers say they have developed a new type of rechargeable battery that is based on organic compounds and could be useful in a wide range of IT-related applications.
The Organic Radical Battery, or ORB, is based on a similar cell structure to a lithium ion battery, of the type commonly found in devices such as notebook computers and cell phones, but with one significant difference: instead of using poisonous ingredients like lithium and cobalt, it uses an organic compound called PTMA.
The change not only makes the battery more environmentally friendly but also delivers some properties that could make it better suited to certain applications than existing batteries, said Masaharu Satoh, principal researcher and NEC's energy device technology group in Tsukuba, Japan.U1544 , J2178 , C1295 , BAT1194 , W1605 , YD165 , 3R305 , 1X793 , 312-0068 , 0X217 ,6Y270 , Inspiron 500m , Inspiron 510m , Inspiron 600m , Latitude D500, Latitude D510 , Latitude D520 , Latitude D600 , Latitude D610
More Power, Less Time
Chief among these is a high power density, which indicates how much power can be supplied for its size. An ORB can deliver much more power than a lithium ion battery of the same size. However the energy density, which relates to how long the power can be supplied, is lower than lithium ion. This combination points towards applications where a large amount of power is needed for a short time, said Satoh.
One such application--providing enough power to allow a PC to backup data and shutdown properly in the event of a main power failure--has been used by Satoh and his team to demonstrate the technology. Four of the small, thin ORB cells are all that's required to keep a desktop PC running for the 10 or 20 seconds required to carry out such an operation, he said.
It's not the same as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), which can typically power a PC for about an hour, but the small size and likely low cost or the ORB means it could potentially become a standard feature inside desktop PCs, unlike UPS units which are bulky and expensive.
The prototype cells measure 2.1 inches by 1.7 inches, are 0.1 inch thick, which is about the same size a stack of 3 credit cards. Each cell weighs less than 1 ounce.
Other Advantages
The ORB has other advantages over current rechargeable battery technologies too, Satoh said. It's able to maintain an almost constant voltage during discharge and also loses its ability to be fully charged at a much slower rate than competitors.
The battery can also be charged very fast. With enough current supplied the battery can be charged to about 80 percent of its capacity in just one minute, which could make it suitable for wireless applications where fast charging is advantageous, said Satoh.
Another advantage that comes from its close structure to Lithium Ion is that the manufacturing process is very similar and so mass production, when or if it occurs, could likely be done on existing battery production lines with only minor adjustments, said Satoh.
Some more work remains on fine-tuning the ORB and NEC plans to also spend the next 2 to 3 years working on possible uses for the technology as it moves towards possible commercialization.5081P , 312-3250 , 3149C , 1691P , 1K500, 75UYF , 8M815 , Latitude CPi , Latitude C600 ,Inspiron 4000 , Inspiron 4100 , Inspiron 4150 , Inspiron 8000 , Inspiron 8100 , Inspiron 8200 ,Latitude C500 , Latitude C800 , Latitude C810 , Latitude C840 , Latitude C640,312-0386 , JD634 , PC764 , TC030 , TD175 , Latitude D620
NEC began researching the technology in 2000 and its work has been partly funded by Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
The Organic Radical Battery, or ORB, is based on a similar cell structure to a lithium ion battery, of the type commonly found in devices such as notebook computers and cell phones, but with one significant difference: instead of using poisonous ingredients like lithium and cobalt, it uses an organic compound called PTMA.
The change not only makes the battery more environmentally friendly but also delivers some properties that could make it better suited to certain applications than existing batteries, said Masaharu Satoh, principal researcher and NEC's energy device technology group in Tsukuba, Japan.U1544 , J2178 , C1295 , BAT1194 , W1605 , YD165 , 3R305 , 1X793 , 312-0068 , 0X217 ,6Y270 , Inspiron 500m , Inspiron 510m , Inspiron 600m , Latitude D500, Latitude D510 , Latitude D520 , Latitude D600 , Latitude D610
More Power, Less Time
Chief among these is a high power density, which indicates how much power can be supplied for its size. An ORB can deliver much more power than a lithium ion battery of the same size. However the energy density, which relates to how long the power can be supplied, is lower than lithium ion. This combination points towards applications where a large amount of power is needed for a short time, said Satoh.
One such application--providing enough power to allow a PC to backup data and shutdown properly in the event of a main power failure--has been used by Satoh and his team to demonstrate the technology. Four of the small, thin ORB cells are all that's required to keep a desktop PC running for the 10 or 20 seconds required to carry out such an operation, he said.
It's not the same as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), which can typically power a PC for about an hour, but the small size and likely low cost or the ORB means it could potentially become a standard feature inside desktop PCs, unlike UPS units which are bulky and expensive.
The prototype cells measure 2.1 inches by 1.7 inches, are 0.1 inch thick, which is about the same size a stack of 3 credit cards. Each cell weighs less than 1 ounce.
Other Advantages
The ORB has other advantages over current rechargeable battery technologies too, Satoh said. It's able to maintain an almost constant voltage during discharge and also loses its ability to be fully charged at a much slower rate than competitors.
The battery can also be charged very fast. With enough current supplied the battery can be charged to about 80 percent of its capacity in just one minute, which could make it suitable for wireless applications where fast charging is advantageous, said Satoh.
Another advantage that comes from its close structure to Lithium Ion is that the manufacturing process is very similar and so mass production, when or if it occurs, could likely be done on existing battery production lines with only minor adjustments, said Satoh.
Some more work remains on fine-tuning the ORB and NEC plans to also spend the next 2 to 3 years working on possible uses for the technology as it moves towards possible commercialization.5081P , 312-3250 , 3149C , 1691P , 1K500, 75UYF , 8M815 , Latitude CPi , Latitude C600 ,Inspiron 4000 , Inspiron 4100 , Inspiron 4150 , Inspiron 8000 , Inspiron 8100 , Inspiron 8200 ,Latitude C500 , Latitude C800 , Latitude C810 , Latitude C840 , Latitude C640,312-0386 , JD634 , PC764 , TC030 , TD175 , Latitude D620
NEC began researching the technology in 2000 and its work has been partly funded by Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
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