Hitachi tech would double li-ion lifespan

Hitachi today said it had developed a technology to double the useful lifetime of a lithium-ion battery. The approach extends the life of the manganese cathodes inside a cell and should result in batteries that can last for 10 years before they need to be replaced. It simultaneously uses less cobalt than usual batteries and could be less expensive as a result.

Initially, the Japanese firm plans to use the new lithium-ion cells for large-scale tasks where a long lifespan is essential, such as storing the excess energy from a wind power generator. Lithium-ion is found in virtually all modern portable electronics, however, and could see a similar benefit as it scales down. Currently, the longest-lasting notebook batteries are believed to be Apple's, as intelligent charging on the MacBook and MacBook Pro helps the portables last for up to five years in typical use.

By Electronista Staff