New Li-ion battery charges to 80% in 60 seconds

ignatz · 03-29-2005, 02:54 PM

A few months ago this research was mentioned, but now Toshiba has announced a new type of Li-ion battery that can charge to 80% of its capacity in 60 seconds and 100% in a few minutes more. The device does not lose significant capacity even after 1000 charges.

This technology could really change portable devices dramatically. Imagine if your laptop or digital audio player could charge up to full in 5 minutes!

Story at the Register. <via Engadget>

Bob Russell · 03-29-2005, 03:41 PM

Sounds like a nice improvement. I wonder if it can charge that fast with a car charger also?

Seems like all the power improvements are very incremental, though, even with revolutionary technologies like nanotechnology and fuel cells. I think the real improvements are going to have to come with more efficient processers and displays and wireless broadcasting. I'm beginning to suspect that side of the equation has a much greater opportunity for gains.

Chaos · 03-29-2005, 09:24 PM

Bob, you're correct in that the power improvements will likely come from the processor/network/disk/etc. side of things, rather than the battery. For example, look at overclocking a processor. It requires more power, depending on how far you overclock it. So, if you underclock a processor, it requires less power. Although you won't get as fast a speed from it, the battery life on a device will become less. So once mobile processors hit a certain point, it would be more advantageous to have a longer battery life, as opposed to more power.

Or maybe they'll just develop a good system for mobile devices that can change the clockspeed of a processor "on the fly", for power saving.

(And wow, six hours after MR had this, it became news on Slashdot. We beat Slashdot on something that's a frontpage story there!)

Alexander Turcic · 03-30-2005, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chaos

Bob, you're correct in that the power improvements will likely come from the processor/network/disk/etc. side of things, rather than the battery.

The number one source of battery drain is still the LCD display! I don't know what the industry is waiting for, but I am desperately longing for OLED, E-Ink, etc. to replace the old LCD technology.

In the meantime, the Toshiba battery would be a significant improvement to what we have today.

03-29-2005, 02:54 PM	#1
ignatz mechanoholic Posts: 582 Karma: 1000217 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sarasota, FL Device: Nook STR/iPhone 4S/EVO 4G	New Li-ion battery charges to 80% in 60 seconds A few months ago this research was mentioned, but now Toshiba has announced a new type of Li-ion battery that can charge to 80% of its capacity in 60 seconds and 100% in a few minutes more. The device does not lose significant capacity even after 1000 charges. This technology could really change portable devices dramatically. Imagine if your laptop or digital audio player could charge up to full in 5 minutes! Story at the Register. <via Engadget>

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03-29-2005, 03:41 PM	#2
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Sounds like a nice improvement. I wonder if it can charge that fast with a car charger also? Seems like all the power improvements are very incremental, though, even with revolutionary technologies like nanotechnology and fuel cells. I think the real improvements are going to have to come with more efficient processers and displays and wireless broadcasting. I'm beginning to suspect that side of the equation has a much greater opportunity for gains.

03-29-2005, 09:24 PM	#3
Chaos Evangelist Posts: 418 Karma: 281 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canada Device: Assorted older devices	Bob, you're correct in that the power improvements will likely come from the processor/network/disk/etc. side of things, rather than the battery. For example, look at overclocking a processor. It requires more power, depending on how far you overclock it. So, if you underclock a processor, it requires less power. Although you won't get as fast a speed from it, the battery life on a device will become less. So once mobile processors hit a certain point, it would be more advantageous to have a longer battery life, as opposed to more power. Or maybe they'll just develop a good system for mobile devices that can change the clockspeed of a processor "on the fly", for power saving. (And wow, six hours after MR had this, it became news on Slashdot. We beat Slashdot on something that's a frontpage story there!)

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