New Batteries Said to Charge in 15 Minutes
Rayovac's I-C3 technology pairs new charger and batteries for much longer life and faster recharge.
Anne B. McDonald, PCWorld.com
LAS VEGAS -- Road warriors with depleted digital devices at the Consumer Electronics Show may want to check out a 15-minute battery recharging demonstration by Rayovac, which is running a battery first-aid station here.
The company expects to ship by September new fast-charging versions of AA and AAA batteries, which power many digital cameras, music players, and personal digital assistants like those also on display.
New Material, Tactic
The new batteries use I-C3 technology Nickel Metal Hydride, says Jerry Albright, Rayovac's divisional vice president of marketing. He says the new batteries can last up to four times longer than standard single-use alkaline batteries in certain applications, and are expected to be rechargeable up to 1000 times.
Until the I-C3 technology, the battery charger itself, including Rayovac's, controlled the speed of the recharging, Albright says. However, the I-C3 NiMH technology puts that control directly into the battery top, which allows for a faster charge. The system monitors the charge in each individual battery for safety, speed, and reliability.
"Rechargables are the fastest growing segment of our market over the past couple of years as more and more consumers have more devices that use batteries," Albright says. The rechargeable-battery industry is a $5 billion market.
If you currently own a Rayovac recharging system, you need to buy a new charger to take advantage of the new batteries.
Four of the fast-charging AA batteries will cost $15, according to Rayovac. A two-position battery charger will cost $20, and a four-position charger will be priced at $35, including an adapter so the charger can plug into a car's cigarette lighter.
Related Products
Rayovac isn't the only battery maker at the show. Lenmar Enterprises is announcing its The Mach 1 SpeedCharger line, which uses microprocessor control to deliver a rapid charge, without overcharging, by continuously monitoring and conditioning the battery.
The company says this extends battery life up to five times that of most charging systems, and substantially improves battery performance. It says the Lenmar Lithium-Ion camcorder and digital camera batteries will recharge in less than 30 minutes, three times faster than traditional chargers.
Save on Printing Costs
Laptop Showcase
Featured APC Accessories
-
APC Back-UPS ES
Safeguards your equipment from damaging surges and spikes that travel along your utility & data lines.
- APC Smart-UPS Loaded with cutting-edge features, unique battery life predictor, unbeatable on-line efficiencies and software agents allowing remote UPS monitoring. Get 10% off your entire kart purchase!
People who read this also read:
Best Prices on Graphics Cards
GeForce 9800 GTX Video CardPrice: $129.99
GeForce GTX 260 Video CardPrice: $229.99
Radeon HD 5770 Video CardPrice: $179.99
Radeon HD 4890 Cyclone OC Video CardPrice: $209.99
896-P3-1255-AR GeForce GTX260 Video CardPrice: $204.00
Radeon HD 5750 Video CardPrice: $163.39
- 15 Minutes to a Secure Business Get the Secure in 15 toolkit starting with the "15 Minutes Month-at-a-Glance" calendar. McAfee will send you additional tools and tricks to stay protected around the clock.
- A Buyer's Guide to Data Protection Implementing data protection products and processes can be daunting. Make the right decisions by exploring what is available and what makes sense for your organization. Use this simple guide to evaluate different vendor offerings.
Cameras
Camcorders
Cell Phones
Components
Desktops
HDTV
Home Theater
GPS
Laptops
Monitors
MP3 Players
Networking &
Printers
Storage








