Friday, September 26, 2014
Do you recall the bygone days where your battery powered devices consisted of a car battery, a torch and perhaps a portable radio?
Those were simpler times. Today, the average person may have anywhere betwixt six to over a dozen battery powered devices, many of them equipped with state-of-the-art nickel metal hydride (NiMH) or lithium ion (Li-ion) that are lighter, more powerful and rechargeable for hundreds or even thousands of times.
You might think that the newer types, given their advantages, might have rendered the older alkaline batteries obsolete, but where the ability to hold a charge for long periods of time is the most desirable trait, alkaline batteries are tough to surpass.
Alkaline batteries have also continued to improve, with the latest being a model from Duracell that uses better quality materials to compress more power into battery cells. This compression produces increased surface area for the chemical reaction that produces electrical power to take place.
The new battery design from Duracell will also have a Powercheck feature on the battery that will enable users to accurately determine the remaining charge.
Of the many applications that will benefit from the increased longevity of the new design, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and emergency back-up lighting are uses that spring to mind. Parents will definitely appreciate the extra life the new design provides when it comes to kids’ toys.
Duracell anticipates the batteries being available in October 2014. All the standard sizes, AA, AAA, C, D and 9V will be on sale at every retailer that currently sells Duracell alkaline batteries.
As portable electronic devices have evolved in complexity and power demands, it has been an ongoing quest for batteries that can supply that power without relying on more expensive modern chemistry batteries, that whilst contributing to the small size and light weight of many modern electronic devices, are not reliable if left unattended for long periods of time without periodic recharging.