Nevada company developing super Li-ion batteries

If there's one thing that really bugs us, it's batteries (that and loud cellphone users). Either they don't last long enough, they take too long to charge, or they explode. But until someone comes up with a fission-powered cellphone, we're stuck with them, so we get pretty charged up (sorry, couldn't resist) when we hear about advances in battery technology. According to New Scientist, Altair Technologies, in Reno, Nevada, is developing a new type of Li-ion battery that can be charged in six minutes, can last 10 times longer than conventional lithiums, and can be recharged up to 20,000 times. The new batteries achieve their impressive results by using lithium titanate nanocrystals. Frankly, we have no idea what that means, and we don't really care. If these work, we're down with them — as long as they don't explode, that is.

[Thanks, Mike]

[Woolly Mittens @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

Gee, is this from the same company that sells "nano-stickers" which double the storage of your ipod AND make your car run eco-friendly?

[Jalexster @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

Nice use of the Konfabulator Battery widget there.

[aprodite @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

Most of the "loud cellphone users" that I've encountered usually:

a) Last far too long,
b) Get highly charged
c) Never explode

But seriously, if those results are true, I'm well impressed. It's about time that battery technology made a "major leap" forward. I hope this is it.

hmm, 180hour battery life on an iPod ;)

[teksno @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

i think the company is a start up out of UNR (university of Nevada at Reno). Its Probably so mech. eng. students doctrite......

[yuppicide @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

I hope they can apply these same principles to sizes like AA that will work in other devices. Imagine a television remote battery that lasts 10 years.

[010111 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

i can't wait for this new super fancy low-recharge time with long-use time battery technology to come out. it'll be great to use on my personal jet-pack or flying car.

[AronT @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

"(sorry, couldn�t resist)"
Was that another pun?
=aron=

[motech @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

altair,
is that the maker of one of the first computers
that microsoft wrote code for?
(pirates of silicone valley)

also - cell phone batteries dont bother me,
its laptop batteries .
would this be the same game?