Matsushita to begin production of new, non-explosive Li-ion batteries

Apparently Matsushita isn't waiting around for the (notoriously slow) IEEE task force to settle on a new Li-ion battery standard, as the company has announced that it will soon begin "mass production of a new lithium-ion battery that is safe from the overheating problems" we're all too familiar with. These batteries in particular will be built to replace those that prompted a massive recall of Sony cells earlier this year, and should be available en masse "by the end of the year." Sony's global recall affected "around 9.6 million cells" used on nearly every laptop under the sun, so we're sure Matsushita's conveyor belts will be approaching record speeds to crank out these replacements. Notably, the company asserted that while actual pricing would depend on the quantity ordered, it would be "higher than existing models" regardless -- which makes sense considering all the loot Sony is losing from this fiasco.

[Via Laptoping, thanks Kaztm]

[CharlieX @ Dec 18th 2006 12:21PM]

Well that's boring. The fear of death and dismemberment is what makes laptopping fun.

[NHAnimator @ Dec 18th 2006 1:21PM]

Please don't use the terms "dismemberment" and "laptop" in the same sentence.

Sincerely,
John Bobbit

[kaztm @ Dec 18th 2006 1:46PM]

Their Core Duo laptop Y5 (href=http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/25/panasonics-lets-note-goes-core-duo/) has this new battery.

I've been using the laptop since May, and so far, nothing has been burnt other than midnight oil.

[Rubberdemon @ Dec 18th 2006 3:49PM]

So does this mean that all the replacement batteries that were sent out (and one of which is currently chugging away on my desk) are still the explosive variety??

[Josh @ Dec 18th 2006 9:38PM]

I agree with Charlie. Doing homework at 4 am isnt very exciting unless your laptop is a time bomb...

So im thinking that maybe Sony (?) can put that in the options under the accessory menu when you buy a laptop. Like a checkbox that says "please make my battery highly explosive". Of course you'd probably have to pay extra, but itd be worth it for all that money you'd save on coffee.


Charred,

Josh

[whitfit @ Dec 18th 2006 9:56PM]

The battery that won't explode and hurt you.

New ad campaign, right from Gob Bluth.