Rayovac to Release Rechargeable Alkaline Batteries

Last year at this time, we examined some of the problems with batteries as a power source for mobile computers (see “Battery Power: It’s Not Yet a ‘Green World,'” Vol.2, No.3, August 1992). In summary, we pointed out that battery vendors were being buffeted on one side by the electronics industry to build more effective power sources, while buffeted on the other side by environmentalists and the government to product batteries that don’t pollute the environment when disposed of.

Rayovac Takes the Lead

Over the past few weeks, battery-maker Rayovac announced that in September it will become the first major battery vendor to release rechargeable alkaline batteries. According to Rayovac, the “Renewal Battery” line, which will hold a charge for years, can be recharged up to 25 times, although the batteries will hold less power each time they’re recharged. On initial use, a Renewal battery will last virtually as long as a single-use alkaline battery and up to three times longer than fully-charged nickel cadmium (NiCD) rechargeable, Rayovac claims. Renewal batteries also come fully charged, unlike NiCDs, and hold a charge for about five years in storage versus a three-month storage life for NiCDs.

Twice the Cost of Single-Use

However, at $5 and $6 for C and D two-packs and AA and AAA four packs, Rayovac’s Renewal batteries will cost about 50 percent more than conventional alkaline batteries and the Rayovac Power Station recharger, which will cost $15 (for a small wall unit) to $30 (for a “family” unit), can’t be used with other manufacturer’s batteries. Several other companies (including Duracell, Everready, and SLM) are reportedly working on similar projects.

Recharged Alkalines Deteriorate

Interestingly, Millennium Rechargeable, a Rayovac Renewal competitor and a leader in the NiCD industry, conducted a study on the long-term use of rechargeable alkalines. The study showed that rechargeable alkalines performance (that is, time of operation) drops with each recharging cycle. One test rated the performance of rechargeable alkalines in powering a Sony Walkman cassette player. The first recharge cycle provided 13 hours of play (compared to a standard alkaline which provided 17 hours), while the third recharging cycle dropped to slightly more than 7 hours. The 15th cycle gave 4 hours of use. Tests conducted by Rayovac test showed similar results: 14 hours of play for the first usage, 10 hours for the third, and six hours for the 15th.

Not Quite There Yet

Clearly, rechargeable alkalines aren’t there yet, but for those of us who believe in mobile computing and a clean environment, this is a step in the right direction. NiCDs are currently too inconvenient, expensive, and environmentally more offensive than disposable alkalines. Rechargeable alkalines may be just as inconvenient to recharge, but the combination of a lower price and a cleaner environment may make them an attractive alternative.

It is also worth noting that a company in New York called the Kensbrook Development Corporation is attempting to market a device for recharging conventional, single-use alkaline batteries, based on a technology developed in the former Soviet Union. This is of course highly controversial, with battery companies warning that recharging standard alkalines is dangerous. In any case, this company’s efforts came to light in an entertaining write-up in the “Talk of the Town” section of the August 2, 1993 issue of The New Yorker.