MetaEfficient Reviews » Rechargeable Batteries

Toshiba Dynario Fuel Cell Device Charger

benjamin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:01:44 +0000

Toshiba Dynario Fuel Cell Device Charger (photo: Toshiba)

The first commercially available fuel cell device charger is here! (Well, technically it’s only “here” if you’re reading this in Japan, but that should soon change). Toshiba’s Dynario charger packs fuel cell technology into a portable package that can provide instant power to a dead mobile phone or other gadget, completely off the grid.
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The Best iPhone Battery Pack

Justin — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:54:15 +0000

The Best iPhone Battery Pack

The iPhone can be power-thirsty. For many people a battery extender is an essential iPhone or iTouch accessory. Here are four of the best backup iPhone battery packs.

Note: iPhone battery performance times vary widely based on individual usage habits and applications. Wherever possible we have tried to give details of a backup battery’s capacity relative to an iPhone’s full charge.

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The Highest Capacity Rechargeable AA Batteries

Justin — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 06:16:03 +0000

For powering high-drain electronics such as digital cameras, the most efficient batteries to use are high-capacity Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) cells. Higher capacity batteries store more charge and they can power your devices longer. (more…)

Rechargeable 9 Volt Lithium Polymer Batteries: Efficient

Justin — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:50:58 +0000

When buying 9 volt batteries, you might want to consider a rechargeable Lithium Polymer 9 volt batteries. As far as I know, iPower is the only company that makes rechargeable 9V lithium polymer batteries. Their batteries are the same size as a 9 volt alkaline battery. (more…)

New Lithium-Ion Battery Recharges To 90% Capacity In 5 Minutes

Justin — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:31:02 +0000

Toshiba has developed a new lithium-ion battery called SCiB (or Super Charge Ion Battery) which can charge to 90% capacity in 5 minutes. The life cycle of the new battery is more than 10 years even if it is rapidly charged and discharged many times. The battery is also mucher safer than other types of lithium ion batteries, which are potential fire hazards.

Toshiba will begin commercial production of the battery in March 2008. The company says the battery can be used in electric motorcycles and hybrid cars. Toshiba currently makes 150,000 cells a month, mostly for electric bicycles. (more…)

The PowerGorilla: Flexible Portable Power

Justin — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:40:13 +0000

I’ve been testing a device that just been introduced called the PowerGorilla. It’s a portable power pack that acts an emergency back-up charger for your laptop computer other other electronic gadgets. The battery inside the PowerGorilla is a lithium-ion and weighs just 631 grams (1.4 pounds). The charger will give you an extra 2-5 hours of power, depending on your laptop’s specification, and over 20 hours on various other electronic devices. (more…)

LiFePO4 Batteries: A Breakthrough For Electric Vehicles

Justin — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 19:09:34 +0000

Soon, we’ll probably be seeing Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries being used in most electric cars and bikes. This new battery type is set to dominate the market. Based upon lithium ion technology, LiFePO4 batteries offer many advantages over lithium cobalt dioxide (LiCoO2) batteries which are commonly used in laptops, mp3 players and cell phones.

In electric vehicles, LiFePO4 batteries offer greater range, power and safety. They provide full power until they are completely discharged, and recharge in just 2.5 hours. LiFePO4 chemistry is also environmentally friendly — it’s the least toxic of all the battery types. (more…)

A Portable Kinetic Motion Charger

Justin — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:23:18 +0000

A company called M2E Power has announced plans today to release a charger that will powered by kinetic motion. The released date is expected to be next summer. The charger derives power from the motion of walking, jogging, cycling, or driving. Six hours of motion provides 30 to 60 minutes of charging power. It will be priced between $25 and $40. (more…)

Universal Battery Chargers: A Review

Justin — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:55:26 +0000

We briefly reviewed battery chargers in a previous post “The Best Rechargeable Batteries of 2008“. Here’s a closer look at the best universal battery chargers, or chargers that can handle AAA, AA, C, D sized cells, and well as 9V cells. (more…)

The Best Rechargeable Batteries and Chargers Of 2009

Justin — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 19:56:13 +0000

Today, the best rechargeable batteries are the new hybrid Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) cells. These hybrid batteries have a lot going for them: they come fully charged (like alkaline batteries), and they can hold their charge over may months (unlike regular Ni-MH rechargeables). Because they can hold their charge for so long, they are suitable for low-drain devices like remote controls and flashlights. But they are also ideal for use in high-drain electronic devices like digital cameras.

So, basically, these new hybrid Ni-MH cells offer the convenience and shelf-life of alkalines, and the high-drain performance of older Ni-MH batteries. You can find the new hybrid Ni-MHs being sold with names like Hybrio, Eneloop and Rayovac Hybrid.

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