Silver-zinc batteries boast no fire risk, higher runtime - 8/28/2008

With all the chaos surrounding lithium-ion batteries recently, the timing of this announcement seems eerily prescient: A company called Zinc Matrix Power is close to releasing a rechargeable battery made of silver and zinc. The batteries have absolutely no lithium and certainly no flammable liquids; in fact, the silver-zinc batteries are created using a water-based chemistry. This makes for virtually no fire risk and also makes the batteries easier to recycle (since they won't be leaking any of those harmful chemicals). In addition, the company claims that they have twice the runtime of their lithium-ion counterparts.



Laptop vendors seek better battery standard - 10/31/2006

Following a massive battery recall, a group of laptop manufacturers plan to announce a new standard for making lithium ion batteries. A group of laptop vendors and battery manufacturers plans to announce a standard for making safer lithium ion batteries by June 15, 2007, in an attempt to recover from a massive series of battery recalls in recent months. The new standard will cover "process requirements, quality control and assurance" for all forms of rechargeable lithium ion battery cells, from prismatic to cyllindrical and pouch, according to the Association Connecting Electronics Industries, known as IPC.



Being Smart with Laptop Batteries - 8/30/2006

Over the last several weeks we have been dealing with the largest recall in history that the laptop segment has ever had. This one is particularly important because the result of a battery failure, which could come at an increasing rate, is a very hot fire that is potentially life threatening and incredibly difficult to put out. This points out the danger of any technology that stores energy. Even a Cell phone, were it to short out, could create a fire or cause a burn suggesting that if the battery on one is damaged it should be replaced immediately.



PC makers to discuss batteries standards - 8/28/2006

Dell Inc. and Apple Computer Inc., which recalled nearly 6 million notebook batteries between them this month, are among PC makers planning to meet next month to discuss setting design and safety standards for lithium-ion batteries used in portable electronic devices. The batteries were blamed in rare fires that prompted this month's recalls, the largest electronic recalls involving federal product-safety officials. Dell and Apple belong to an electronics-industry trade group that sets standards for many electronics components. The group's critical-parts committee will meet Sept. 13 in San Jose, Calif. Sony Corp., which made the recalled batteries, has not indicated whether it will attend.



About Batteries - 8/26/2006

Lithium-ion batteries power our cell phones, laptops and every other new-fangled gadget. So, how do these batteries work and what makes them go Lithium-ion batteries are ideal for mobile electronics because they are lightweight, extremely energy-dense, and have a unique chemistry allowing them to be recharged. Their foundation is the lithium ion. Lightweight, highly reactive and tiny, the metal can generate high voltage while taking up little space, making it ideal for use in energy-sucking portable electronics. Its chemical makeup also makes it easy to recharge.



Sony Slumps Following Second Battery Debacle - 8/25/2006

Sony shares fell on news that Apple Computer recalled 1.8 million batteries shipped with laptops. Following an even larger recall by Dell earlier this month, this brings the total number of recalled batteries to 5.9 million. Sony said it does not anticipate any further recalls from other computer makers. Sony's (NYSE: SNE) reputation suffered another hit on Thursday when Apple Computer (Nasdaq: AAPL) recalled 1.8 million notebook batteries manufactured by the consumer electronics giant. Shares of Sony were down in Friday trading on news of the second major recall in just over two weeks. Apple's move followed Dell's (Nasdaq: DELL) Aug. 14 recall of up to 4 million lithium-ion batteries containing Sony-made power cells.



Apple to recall 1.8 million notebook batteries - 8/24/2006

Apple Computer (APPL) will recall 1.8 million lithium-ion notebook batteries after nine devices overheated, causing minor burns to two users, U.S. safety regulators said Thursday. The recall is the second-biggest in U.S. history involving electronics or computers. Just last week, No. 1 PC maker Dell recalled 4.1 million lithium-ion batteries. In both cases, the batteries had power cells made by Sony. Sony said in a separate statement that it did not anticipate further recalls of batteries using the potentially faulty cells. The giant Japanese electronics company said the Apple and Dell recalls would cost Sony between 20 billion yen and 30 billion yen ($172 million to $258 million).