Boston-Power promises next-gen notebook batteries
updated 09:35 am EST, Tue January 30, 2007
Next-Gen Laptop Batteries
Battery developer Boston-Power helped open the DEMO 07 convention today by announcing a new battery technology it says will dramatically improve the lifespan and usefulness of the lithium-ion batteries found in notebooks. Named Sonata, the updated batteries feature a mix of slower chemical reactions and better power management to nearly triple the longevity of a notebook's battery pack. Where heavy notebook users may need to buy as many as three batteries over the course of their system's lifespan, Boston-Power claims, only a single Sonata battery should be needed to arrive at the same goal. The design is also much quicker to reach a full charge, reaching 80 percent of its power in 30 minutes -- twice as quick as today's batteries, the company says.
Additionally, the new implementation is expected to be less prone to overheating and catching fire, problems which ultimately triggered last year's global battery recall by Sony. The extra safety and performance of the battery is said to have drawn interest from many computer manufacturers and was co-developed with HP, which hopes to use the batteries in its notebooks in the near future.
