Air Oxyride: 100 batteries included

Panasonic has bumped up the power of its Oxyride batteries, claiming the new version is 120% more efficient than the original model. And to prove it, Panny has decided to launch an airplane powered by 100 AA Oxyride batteries (you might recall that the original Oxyride was heralded by a battery-powered ultralight vehicle). No word on how far the plane will be able to go powered on those AAs -- or whether Panny's actually managed to recruit anyone to fly the thing (though we hear Richard Branson is game). We assume that, after this stunt, Panny will roll out next year's upgrade with an Oxyride-powered space shuttle, and follow that one with a battery-powered lunar colony. Maybe after that, they'll consider something really dramatic, like beating disposable lithiums or rechargeable NiMHs in a digicam.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 17th 2006 10:46AM]

I wonder how many batterys it is gonna use

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 17th 2006 11:22AM]

my guess is 100,000 triple a's

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 17th 2006 11:24AM]

It says 100 AAs try actually READING instead of just looking at the pretty pictures.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 17th 2006 11:47AM]

nah...probably 100,005 triple A's, just so you have to use 25,001 packs, and then piss you off by having to open another pack just to get the last battery... (like all those older LED torches that use 3 batterys)

Leo

[urza9814 Posted Apr 17th 2006 12:00PM]

Um...did nobody notice the "...launch an airplane powered by 100 AA Oxyride batteries"

Big deal...a 150V plane...bet it only stays up there a few seconds.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 17th 2006 12:30PM]

I'm waiting for the battery-powered time machine.

[derwin Posted Apr 17th 2006 1:10PM]

haha, i like the katakana on the bottom:

OKKUSHIRAIDO!!

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 17th 2006 1:36PM]

When the hell are they bringing these to the U.S.? They said they were going to a long time ago, but no, they have to piss off everyone. I have never see these in stores.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 17th 2006 2:22PM]

The construction of the plane is being documented in the currently running Japanese TV show, "21 seiki no raito kyoudai" (21st Century Wright Brothers). http://oxy.at.webry.info/

[MasterCKO Posted Apr 17th 2006 3:43PM]

#8, that would be OKISHIRAIDO. And I don't see the humor in it.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 17th 2006 4:36PM]

I don't think the FAA would be amused.

[bucknoy Posted Apr 17th 2006 5:41PM]

haha, I like to show off because I know what a katakana and an OKISIRAIDO is, so I'll post that I think it's so funny, but not let anyone else know what it means because then I wouldn't be special anymore....

haha, hehe, lol, rotflmao!

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 17th 2006 6:27PM]

for anyone who wants to read or learn japanese, I recommend the 'rikaichan' extension for firefox (doesn't work on photos, though, only text). you too can be demonstrating your awesome kana/kanji-reading skills on engadget in just a few hours.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 17th 2006 7:04PM]

Who needs these anyway. I dont. Im gonna get one of those nanogenerator implants.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 18th 2006 4:42AM]

Err #8...I've seen these in stores for quite a while now...maybe you should bug your local stores to start buying them from their distributor...or maybe move to a major city with real stores.

Seriously, I've even seen competing products available with the same (or is it just similar?) technology...duracell has PowerPix
Heck, it's even on Circuit City's website.

[OddManOut Posted Apr 19th 2006 8:57AM]

"I'm waiting for the battery-powered time machine."

Those things are so common they give them away in breakfast cereal boxes man! Ain't you ever heard of a 'Wrist Watch' ? No winding required and the displys these days are a nifty LCD...

[(Unverified) Posted May 1st 2006 7:34PM]

The photo is definitely a fake. Did anybody notice that Chinese writing ?

Sorry - wrong story