Nickel-Zinc to hit the streets end of April

[gSPIN]

I'm really interested in early adopting some of these batteries:

http://www.powergenix.com/docs/powergenix-specs-aa.pdf
http://www.powergenix.com/docs/powergenix-specs-c.pdf

so just a heads up for CPF members to keep an eye out for them SVP.


According to this <A HREF="http://www.powermanagementdesignline.com/news/206905768">interview</A>
with the CEO of manufacturer PowerGenix, subC's will be out end of this month built into an unnamed power tool pack.
6.5 Ah D-size are planned for the end of the year, with Duracell & Energizer being courted to distribute AA & AAA 'soon'.

NiZn has a rocky history & I'm hoping that the problems will have been solved this go round.
What makes them apealing is their higher 1.6V nominal voltage but judging by the specs, the amp-hours is down by a corresponding amount.
So the total watt-hours is basically the same as that of a NiMH of the same form factor, despite the claim made to the contrary of a 30% better energy density.

In fact in almost all respects by the numbers at least it 'feels' indentical to NiMH in performance, so don't believe all the hype.
The main benefits (compared against NiMH) seem to be 25% less weight, better low temp performance, should cost less to produce hopefully also to buy & of course gotta like that alkaline compatible standoff voltage.
Don't know about the self discharge characteristic which is one of the things I want to find for myself.

If this thing can even reasonably deliver the goods then it just may have the right middle-of-the-road mix of characteristics, where is does everything well enuf that it may indeed be a world beater.
But I've been disappointed so many times in up & coming technologies that promise a lot but for one reason or another fail to take off, so I remain sceptical but open minded.

 

[abvidledUK]

I'm always wary of low count, same day posters, especially when the link leads directly to a download.

 

[Darkpower]

I'm always wary of low count, same day posters, especially when the link leads directly to a download.

It looks legit. Interesting. I look forward to a new technology. I am still an advocate of the rechargeable alkaline manganese (RAM) batteries that never quite took off, but have an excellent use for long shelf life (5 years) with practically little self-discharge.

Anyhow they don't mention self-discharge which is really the new buzz-word in NiMh for the last year.

Here's the web site without the *.PDF download and an excerpt.



http://www.powergenix.com/about.php

Company Background
PowerGenix is developing and manufacturing patented, nickel-zinc (NiZn) rechargeable batteries that are substantially smaller, lighter and more powerful than other rechargeable batteries on the market today. Our rechargeable Ni-Zn batteries are green and completely safe. Ni-Zn batteries contain no toxic materials, are easily recyclable and are non-combustible.

NiZn batteries lend themselves to numerous applications requiring a light-weight, rechargeable, high-discharge rate battery. Applications for our batteries that we are pursuing include power tools, hybrid electric vehicles, personal mobility devices such as scooters and wheel chairs, military and medical device applications, as well as consumer AA/AAA batteries

Founded in 2000, PowerGenix is comprised of individuals whose experience in all aspects of the battery industry total more than 300 years. Many in Our technical teams in the both the U.S. and China hold Ph.D.s in chemistry and chemical engineering, while our management team has extensive leadership experience in successful companies including Apple, Duracell, Lambda, Lucent Technologies, Varta, TTI, and Sanyo.
Our Facilities

PowerGenix is headquartered in San Diego, CA. Our 20,000 square-foot facility houses our corporate offices as well as all operations, including low-volume manufacturing of battery cells. Our facility in Shenzhen, China augments technology and product development taking place in San Diego, provides direct support to our customers, and oversees supply chain activities.

In order to produce our batteries in a world class manufacturing environment, we have partnered with a large rechargeable battery manufacturer in China, where cells are produced in a high quality, well-established battery factory that has experience supplying to global OEMs. PowerGenix maintains a direct presence in the factory, monitoring and auditing production and quality processes.

 

[SilverFox]

Hello gSPIN,

Welcome to CPF.

NiZn has about the same self discharge rate as normal NiMh chemistry. I have heard that once you get past the initial exponential decay "hot off the charger," the self discharge rate drops to around 1% per day.

I see the big problem being capacity.

The other "issue" will be the self discharge rate. If you start with lower capacity, it will be an uphill battle agains the low self discharge NiMh batteries.

The higher voltage is nice, but it is too bad that you can't charge them with existing chargers.

I believe some of the electric vehicle research has looked at this chemistry. If I remember correctly, there were some issues balancing cells in the battery packs. It will be interesting to see what happens.

Tom

 

[chanamasala]

Engadget just posted about these:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/16/powergenix-reveals-potent-nizn-rechargeable-aa-batteries/

 

[Marduke]

Lower capacity, higher self discharge rate. No thanks, I'll stick with my LSD NiMH cells.

 

[gSPIN]

WOW!, way to be on the ball with the breaking news, amazing.
And thank you chanamasala for remembering this thread, this forum stuf really works.:thumbsup:
A bit past April but glad to see that at least they're fer reel & can't wait to put them thru their paces.
I've been busy the past 6 mos. & even lost track myself.
A brief aside, sorta connected as everyone is making comparisons to highest capacity NiMH, when I went to check it out this immediately caught my eye in the breaking news column @ engadget.

• Panasonic to officially purchase controlling stake in Sanyo for $6.4B

Anyway, the (slightly) lower density was to be expected & spelled out prior, but a baby gots to learn to walk b4 it can run & NiMH is definitely more mature technology.
I expect that the same tweaks in the physical parameters that have improved the capacity & LSD of NiMH (i.e. wind the spiral tighter or thicker separator) can eventually be applied to NiZn as well.
Unfortunately that very much depends if the company can survive long enuf to implement them, so I don't judge these too harshly on their diminished capacity alone.
If they perform reasonably well otherwise, I can find a place for these.

The higher voltage means one-third fewer cells required than NiMH/NiCd, so if the price per cell is anywhere near equal that would make them more economical in both $ & real-estate.
Only need twice the number of cells than Li instead of 3X of NiMH to reach the same voltage while still being as safe, so it slots in nicely between the two chemistires & would think it'll grab some market from both.

However my big hope is for high capacity NiZn D-cells, since Chevron won't license anyone to make NiMHs bigger than 10Ah there's a wide open market there, dare I say even a pent-up demand, especially if it can be decently priced as is claimed.
If large format NiMH were permitted to flourish, then a scaled up D-size equivalent of a 2700 mah AA would be pushing 20Ah (24Wh).
Maybe it'll be Exxon this time but provided they or some such don't buy into PowerGenix there's lots of room there for even a lower density version of NiZn to make significant gains in capacity in the larger form factor.