New Sony lithium ion batteries promise 4x the capacity, 99% recharge in 30 minutes
By Donald Melanson 
posted August 11th 2009 3:38PM
posted August 11th 2009 3:38PM
Sony's certainly had its share of battery problems but, like most battery-makers, it's also doing its part to try to improve things, and it's now announced a new lithium-ion battery that should not only be more stable, but last significantly longer than traditional batteries as well. That's apparently possible in part due to its use of an olivine-type lithium iron phosphate for the cathode material, which should help boost the battery's overall lifespan to four times that of conventional lithium ion batteries, not to mention provide an 80% capacity retention after 2,000 charge-discharge cycles and, perhaps most impressively, a promised 99% recharge in just 30 minutes. According to Sony, the batteries are especially well suited for use in power tools (where they'll first show up), but it does say they'll also eventually be "expanded to a wide range of other mobile electronic devices."
[Via Sony Insider]
[Via Sony Insider]
Wups, and in my own haste, I reversed power density and energy density. My bad.
And these batteries can only be charged using "Sony Approved" electricity
99 percent in 30 minutes? wouldnt it have made more sense to just say it fully charges in just over half an hour?
No, because that'd be false. Batteries don't charge at a linear rate. Ever wonder why computer manufacturers say things like "Charges to 80% capacity in one hour" and not how long it takes for a full charge? Because a full charge probably takes two hours, with that last 20% taking half the charge time.
Same thing for 99%, although it's a tad extreme. Getting to 100% might take 45 minutes, which is a much less impressive time figure than 30 minutes.
Normal Lithium-ion batteries have a property where the first 80% can be charged quickly but the last 20% needs to be charged more slowly with a lower voltage (This is what prevents them from blowing up). This is why ipods etc. advertise 80% in 30 minutes full charge in 4 hours.
There is no limitation to how much Sony sucks and how overpriced their products are.
You keep telling yourself that. Does it make it easier to live with thinking that's the truth?
I live just fine knowing that it's the truth. Almost every Sony product I've owned has been a piece of shit. Read almost any article here on Engadget and then do some comparative shopping, then you'll see that you can easily get the same value/hardware for much less with other, more reputable manufacturers. A shiny shell does not a good product make.
Except their DSLRs, some of their earbuds, some of their TV,s some of their MP3 players, and now their batteries.
Expect Duracell and Energizer to up their capacities as soon as these hit the market. Yep, I believe in battery innovation stifling. Same as rubber and tire tech (available to the public).
(inserts completely un-related Obama health care association)
You forgot UMD movies.
You keep telling yourself that. It's a common response from trailertrash, make out the expensive stuff is no good to make your crap seem better.
Well this is what you get when you put a democrat in the white house.
good, these LiFePO4 should save them from the embarrassment of exploding batteries.
Even though this type of batteries has lower density compared to cobalt based, it is better in almost every other aspect.
These Sony 18650 size batteries are 3.2 volts and 1100 maH rated. Common 18650 cells are 3.7 volts and 2200 maH. So these new Sony batteries store energies of 3.52 watt-hours compared to a normal cells 8.14 watt-hours. The improvement is in the fast discharge, 20 amps, fast recharge and number of recharges before wearout. Maybe these are good for cars and power tools but a waste in a laptop.
You know, this is about the 10 bajillionth revolutionary battery breakthrough I've read about online...but my damn laptop and cell phones never get any better!! lol
Yay, vive le nanotubez
Do these batteries have LSD feature like Eneloop? ... or is it fast-in fast-out?
And I'm sure these will also be 4x the price of the old lithium-ion batteries.
Some wrong informatoin, there is not 4x capacity increasing has been anounced.
you have to understand the difference between Power Density and Energy Density.
Power Density : How fast can discharge the energy
Energy Density : How much energy can be stored
The power density of high rate lithium polymer battery base on cobalt system is around 4000Wh/kg, and energy density is around 200Wh/kg. but, cyclelife is around 100~200 cycles for high rate cell. and charging rate is 30 min > 90%
Basically, the energy density (or capacity) of this cell is just A HALF of traditional lithium ion battery.
and the power density of this cell is just A HALF of traditional lithium ion battery.
but, Cycle life is much longer than the traditional lithium ion battery.
but, If power dencity is identical and energy dencity is identical, the cycle life will be same.
and the safety also same.
It is the reason why Lithium Phosphate is not used globally.
Just they sucess to increase the power dencity of their old product. it can not be comparable with others.
Please review the information when upload on this blog.
thanks
No one mention Sanyo, which has exactly the same battery for 2 years already.
which battery would that be?
Why do I have a feeling they're gonna try to use those to power up the Full Scale Gundam in Tokyo.
http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/200908/09-083E/index.html
80% charge capacity after 2,000 charge/discharge cycles is very good. I wonder how recycling would go with the new chemistry.
More than this, my 'peace-on-earth' wish is that car GPS units, portable audio, electric toothbrushes and so forth would have user-replaceable batteries. Which doesn't require heavy R&D, only some common sense and the realisation that current batteries only do 300-500 charge cycles before becoming really short on breath in the battery life department - and don't allow for quick battery swaps when you need them.
Umm... you mean like those LiFePo4 batteries used by RC pilots ? It's not exactly new...
Eeeh i don't want my drill exploding on me.
I hope Sony does a lot of testing, hope they learned something after the last fuckup.
Recently i was using a Milwaukee Portable Drill, the temperature inside the hall was around 30° C/86° F.
I needed to drill around 120 holes, suddenly the battery started smoking, so kicked it across the hall, to the doors, once outside the battery exploded (can't post pictures, my company doesn't allow camera's, production secrecy, ya know).
If it exploded whilst i was drilling i probably would've lost a finger.
So then how long for a full charge?