Toshiba Introduces Fast-Charging Lithium-Ion Battery

MacRumors · Mar 29, 2005, 07:29 PM

Today, Toshiba announced a "breakthrough" in lithium-ion battery technology. The new technology reportedly allows a battery to recharge to 80% of the battery's capacity in one minute -- approximately 60 times faster than typical lithium ion batteries.

Other advantages listed include losing only 1% of capacity after 1000 charging cycles and the ability to function at low temperatures.

The battery will be available in commercial products starting in 2006. While initially available in automotive and industrial sectors, they list mobile phones as a possibility.

arn · Mar 29, 2005, 07:31 PM

obviously iPods would be an nice use as well...

arn

zimtheinvader · Mar 29, 2005, 07:32 PM

so when do the ipods start shipping w/ this?

Convieniently in time for the Powerbook G5!

How do cars use this?

jimsowden · Mar 29, 2005, 07:34 PM

the current iPod battery I find quite lame. My cell phone charges in about an hour and I leave it on for a week. I know the iPod has to spin a HD, but the phone has to wireless transmit my voice to a tower miles away. That seems harder. Whats the deal here?

Daveway · Mar 29, 2005, 07:34 PM

Toshiba obviously has some amazing technology there. I can see these batteries exploding in peoples' hands. Charging a battery to 80% in seconds is not safe in my book.

JRM PowerPod · Mar 29, 2005, 07:34 PM

That's some fair kick ass technology

gekko513 · Mar 29, 2005, 07:35 PM

Will be included in new iPods announced at MWSF'06, is my guess.

pdpfilms · Mar 29, 2005, 07:35 PM

holy cow! do you think it affects battery life or overall lifespan? Is it like "Charge 80% in 60 minutes- lasts a whopping 12.3 minutes!" or something like that? i wonder if the technology is super expensive...

powerbook911 · Mar 29, 2005, 07:36 PM

This sounds fantastic. Developments like these will truly change our lives.

I can't wait. Good stuff.

MichaelLatta · Mar 29, 2005, 07:45 PM

This would be great in a PowerBook. I could recharge between flights! Was there any mention of size limits or other reasons it would not support large laptops? Was phone use proposed because of the lower demands?

zach · Mar 29, 2005, 07:48 PM

OMG... that in a PowerBook would be the leetest.

Analog Kid · Mar 29, 2005, 07:49 PM

Wow-- this is huge if they match their claims... Airports are going to hate it though-- travelers are going to be plugging in on connections and pulling a whole lot more current than the current chargers do...

Analog Kid · Mar 29, 2005, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimsowden

the current iPod battery I find quite lame. My cell phone charges in about an hour and I leave it on for a week. I know the iPod has to spin a HD, but the phone has to wireless transmit my voice to a tower miles away. That seems harder. Whats the deal here?

Huge difference between idle power and active power in a cell phone. Can you get 8 hours of talk time on your phone?

When it's just sitting on your hip, it's no longer transmitting your voice to a tower miles away (and the towers are getting more closely spaced every year)...

Analog Kid · Mar 29, 2005, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveway00

Toshiba obviously has some amazing technology there. I can see these batteries exploding in peoples' hands. Charging a battery to 80% in seconds is not safe in my book.

It's a 600mAh cell-- so we're looking at something like 600*60*.8=28A at 3.6V, or about 103W per cell at 100% efficiency.

What's a Pentium draw these days?

bluebomberman · Mar 29, 2005, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Analog Kid

It's a 600mAh cell-- so we're looking at something like 600*60*.8=28A at 3.6V, or about 103W per cell at 100% efficiency.

What's a Pentium draw these days?

Any physics/EE people out there? How does this battery compare with current batteries in laptops, cell phones, and iPods?

d.perel · Mar 29, 2005, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macrumors

The battery will be available in commercial products starting in 2006. While initially available in automotive and industrial sectors, they list mobile phones as a possibility.

This is awesome for all battery-powered devices, including iPods and Laptops, BUT 2006...I can't wait!

As a side note, this would probably be great for a new gen of plug-in hybrid cars.

OwenMan · Mar 29, 2005, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zimtheinvader

so when do the ipods start shipping w/ this?

Convieniently in time for the Powerbook G5!

How do cars use this?

Perhaps electric and hybrid cars such as the toyota Prius?

Dr. Dastardly · Mar 29, 2005, 08:06 PM

80% in 60 seconds!!

My mind, she is blown!

runninmac · Mar 29, 2005, 08:07 PM

That sounds awsome but i wonder what the price tag is on it?

MrSugar · Mar 29, 2005, 08:08 PM

Sounds amazing...

hob · Mar 29, 2005, 08:11 PM

Is MacRumors turning into MacBytes?

swissmann · Mar 29, 2005, 08:14 PM

If this technology is sound I see it finding its way into everything that has a battery.

DrNeroCF · Mar 29, 2005, 08:14 PM

Yeah, that sounds gravy and whatnot, but how much power does this thing suck up to get charged that quickly?

Not much good if I plug the thing in and all the circuits in my house blow out...

Darwin · Mar 29, 2005, 08:17 PM

Wow

Image what it will be like in the next few years

HAViK · Mar 29, 2005, 08:21 PM

Wow, this is quite an impressive feat.

I am eager to see it's application into laptops and the like to small media management devices. Geeze, imagine how great it will be when something similar to the PSP catches a drift of this new technology. Amazing. This actually goes up there alongside the cell processor in my opinion. This is wonderful news.

Mar 29, 2005, 07:29 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	Toshiba Introduces Fast-Charging Lithium-Ion Battery Today, Toshiba announced a "breakthrough" in lithium-ion battery technology. The new technology reportedly allows a battery to recharge to 80% of the battery's capacity in one minute -- approximately 60 times faster than typical lithium ion batteries. Other advantages listed include losing only 1% of capacity after 1000 charging cycles and the ability to function at low temperatures. The battery will be available in commercial products starting in 2006. While initially available in automotive and industrial sectors, they list mobile phones as a possibility.

Mar 29, 2005, 07:34 PM	#4
jimsowden macrumors 68000 Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA	the current iPod battery I find quite lame. My cell phone charges in about an hour and I leave it on for a week. I know the iPod has to spin a HD, but the phone has to wireless transmit my voice to a tower miles away. That seems harder. Whats the deal here? __________________ King Donko of Punchstania

Mar 29, 2005, 07:34 PM	#5
Daveway macrumors 68040 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: New Orleans / Lafayette, La	Toshiba obviously has some amazing technology there. I can see these batteries exploding in peoples' hands. Charging a battery to 80% in seconds is not safe in my book. __________________ Spare me my life. MBP 2.2 glossy, Alu Macbook 2.4, iMac G5, iPhone3GS 32gb white, iPodz

Mar 29, 2005, 07:34 PM	#6
JRM PowerPod macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Outback Australia	That's some fair kick ass technology __________________ RETIRED MY LAST POWERBOOK EVER. (weeps) QUADG5, 2GHZBLKMB, PBOF12INCHES, 30gbvid, 2gbnano, 40gbphoto, 1gbshuffle, 20"ACD, K800i,I'll stop now

Mar 29, 2005, 07:35 PM	#7
gekko513 macrumors 601 Join Date: Oct 2003	Will be included in new iPods announced at MWSF'06, is my guess. __________________ Someone get Nekkid™, now!

Mar 29, 2005, 07:31 PM	#2
arn macrumors god Join Date: Apr 2001	obviously iPods would be an nice use as well... arn

Mar 29, 2005, 07:32 PM	#3
zimtheinvader macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: the capitol	so when do the ipods start shipping w/ this? Convieniently in time for the Powerbook G5! How do cars use this?

Mar 29, 2005, 07:35 PM	#8
pdpfilms macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Vermontana	holy cow! do you think it affects battery life or overall lifespan? Is it like "Charge 80% in 60 minutes- lasts a whopping 12.3 minutes!" or something like that? i wonder if the technology is super expensive...

Mar 29, 2005, 07:36 PM	#9
powerbook911 macrumors 68000 Join Date: Mar 2005	This sounds fantastic. Developments like these will truly change our lives. I can't wait. Good stuff. __________________ 12-in Powerbook G4 1.5ghz, 20-in iMac 2.4 Core 2 Duo, Mac Mini (Early '09),20-in Cinema Display, AppleTV, iPhone 32GB; Airpot Extreme (Late 2009) iPod 160GB

Mar 29, 2005, 07:45 PM	#10
MichaelLatta macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Encinitas, CA	Next PowerBook? This would be great in a PowerBook. I could recharge between flights! Was there any mention of size limits or other reasons it would not support large laptops? Was phone use proposed because of the lower demands?

Mar 29, 2005, 07:48 PM	#11
zach macrumors 65816 Join Date: Feb 2003	OMG... that in a PowerBook would be the leetest. __________________ MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz you, you're a history in rust

Mar 29, 2005, 07:49 PM	#12
Analog Kid macrumors 68000 Join Date: Mar 2003	Wow-- this is huge if they match their claims... Airports are going to hate it though-- travelers are going to be plugging in on connections and pulling a whole lot more current than the current chargers do... __________________ "Quick to judge, quick to anger, slow to understand... Ignorance and Prejudice and Fear walk hand-in-hand." --Peart

Mar 29, 2005, 08:06 PM	#18
Dr. Dastardly macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: I live in a giant bucket!	80% in 60 seconds!! My mind, she is blown!

Mar 29, 2005, 08:07 PM	#19
runninmac macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Rockford MI	That sounds awsome but i wonder what the price tag is on it? __________________ 2.0 Ghz CoreDuo. 2 GB Ram. 80 Gig HDD. Black MacBook

Mar 29, 2005, 08:08 PM	#20
MrSugar macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2003	Sounds amazing... __________________ Laptop: Macbook (Black) 2ghz 1gig Desktop: dual 2ghz G5 - dual 23" acd's Toys: 40gig iPod - iSight - airport express -- Fluidvision Design

Mar 29, 2005, 08:11 PM	#21
hob macrumors 68000 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: London, UK	Is MacRumors turning into MacBytes? __________________ see robmac.net for my work

Mar 29, 2005, 08:14 PM	#22
swissmann macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: The Utah Alps	If this technology is sound I see it finding its way into everything that has a battery. __________________ Always looking for a faster Mac.

Mar 29, 2005, 08:14 PM	#23
DrNeroCF Banned Join Date: Sep 2004	Yeah, that sounds gravy and whatnot, but how much power does this thing suck up to get charged that quickly? Not much good if I plug the thing in and all the circuits in my house blow out...

Mar 29, 2005, 08:17 PM	#24
Darwin macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: round the corner	Wow Image what it will be like in the next few years

Mar 29, 2005, 08:21 PM	#25
HAViK macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Riverside, CA	Wow, this is quite an impressive feat. I am eager to see it's application into laptops and the like to small media management devices. Geeze, imagine how great it will be when something similar to the PSP catches a drift of this new technology. Amazing. This actually goes up there alongside the cell processor in my opinion. This is wonderful news. __________________ Machine PM G5 DP 2.0; 2.5 GB DDR; ATi x800 XT 256 mb (overclocked 540/575); Goodies: 2x 20" Anodized Aluminum ACD; iSight; iLight; iPod 4g 20gb; iTrip; The Rest: iMac DV SE 400 (.. paper weight); PM G4 350 (serving)

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