12 Mar 2009

20 second recharge time for future batteries

Category: Gadgets

batteries

According to an article in the March issue of “Nature” magazine, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a new “beltway” for the battery material, lithium iron phosphate, that could be used to create new batteries that would charge in seconds, and hold more power in a smaller space.

This new method, if it becomes commercially available (possibly in 2-3 years), would allow cell phone batteries to be smaller and charge in 15-20 seconds, according to the article.

If this becomes reality, this would be a big breakthrough for gadgets. Laptop batteries that currently last 45 minutes would last hours. Cell phone and iPod batteries that last a day would last a week or longer.

The new Palm Pre phone slated to come out in June-July of this year has a wireless battery charger.  If this technology could be combined with this new MIT battery technology, you could simply charge your cell phone at a Starbucks, while waiting for your coffee, without needing a charger or cables.

Needing to charge gadgets at home might become a thing of the past.  Like casette tape, and Standard Def TV, kids in the future will be asking the question, “What’s a charger?”

Posted Thursday, March 12th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Filed Under Category: Gadgets
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4

Responses to “20 second recharge time for future batteries”



  1. By Armadilldo on March 13, 2009 at 4:00 am

    Next up, the Wi-Fi vibrator, aka The Wi-brator™

    • By cochinoman on March 13, 2009 at 1:11 pm

      Yeah. I saw an article about a light switch that was Wi-Fi connected so that you can gather data on your power consumption. We’re not too far from everything that’s powered to be Wi-Fi enabled.

  2. By David on March 15, 2009 at 8:12 am

    I wonder if this technology will affect electric car batteries? Imagine a battery-powered car that charges in an hour (or less) instead of overnight, and has a 200-mile range. You could drive three hours, stop for a meal while the car charges, then continue driving.

    • By cochinoman on March 15, 2009 at 2:23 pm

      What a great thing that would be. If they could get the time down to 5-10 minutes for car batteries, that would be a big break through for the auto industry and possibly could bring them back to life.



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