Rosoku Chikara
Enlightened
There seems to be renewed interest in the question of who owns the Eneloop technology, and where Eneloop cells come from. I cannot speak to any new "Chinese" Eneloops, but I think I can shed some light on this matter. (I have looked into it quite a bit.)
The Sanyo Eneloops were developed in a manufacturing plant in Takasaki City, not so very far from my home in Japan. The plant was originally owned by Toshiba, and it possible (likely?) that some of the early basic research was conducted by Toshiba. The Toshiba Electric group sold off their NiMH battery business to the Sanyo Electric group in April, 2001, and "Sanyo Energy Takasaki Co., Ltd." was born. (It was renamed "Sanyo Energy Twicell Co., Ltd." in April, 2003.)
Up to this point, things are very clear. But, they get a bit murkier when Sanyo sells its "battery business" to Panasonic, in 2009. Fujitsu remains extremely tight-lipped about this matter, but it seems clear enough that, due to international anti-trust concerns, Panasonic was allowed to purchase the Eneloop brand, but not the technology. The technology (and manufacturing plant) were sold off to Fujitsu and "Sanyo Energy Twicell Co., Ltd." was renamed "FDK Twicell Co., Ltd." Fujitsu will not confirm or deny the fact that they manufacturer Eneloops for Panasonic (clearly, they have been asked not to talk about it), but I am increasingly convinced that this one Fujitsu manufacturing plant in Takasai City is the only source of "real" Eneloops cells in the world.
However, since Panasonic clearly owns the Eneloop brand and marketing rights, Panasonic can ask any battery manufacturer to make some cells called "Eneloop," and indeed they will be "genuine" Eneloops. Panasonic controls what the definition of an "Eneloop" is... So, if it says Panasonic on it, it is real enough. But, unless it is actually made by FDK in Takasaki City, I would say that it is highly unlikely that the technology is the same.
It is possible, however, that FDK could expand their capacity or attempt to lower costs by establishing another manufacturing plant overseas. If so, such cells might use the exact same technology as the Takasaki plant.
Also, bear in mind that FDK is free to sell cells to anyone else in the world, so long as they don't say "Eneloop" on them. And, indeed they have made some attempt to sell what (according to HKJ's recent review) appears to be cells that are exactly the same as latest generation Panasonic Eneloops, under they own FDK brand.
The Sanyo Eneloops were developed in a manufacturing plant in Takasaki City, not so very far from my home in Japan. The plant was originally owned by Toshiba, and it possible (likely?) that some of the early basic research was conducted by Toshiba. The Toshiba Electric group sold off their NiMH battery business to the Sanyo Electric group in April, 2001, and "Sanyo Energy Takasaki Co., Ltd." was born. (It was renamed "Sanyo Energy Twicell Co., Ltd." in April, 2003.)
Up to this point, things are very clear. But, they get a bit murkier when Sanyo sells its "battery business" to Panasonic, in 2009. Fujitsu remains extremely tight-lipped about this matter, but it seems clear enough that, due to international anti-trust concerns, Panasonic was allowed to purchase the Eneloop brand, but not the technology. The technology (and manufacturing plant) were sold off to Fujitsu and "Sanyo Energy Twicell Co., Ltd." was renamed "FDK Twicell Co., Ltd." Fujitsu will not confirm or deny the fact that they manufacturer Eneloops for Panasonic (clearly, they have been asked not to talk about it), but I am increasingly convinced that this one Fujitsu manufacturing plant in Takasai City is the only source of "real" Eneloops cells in the world.
However, since Panasonic clearly owns the Eneloop brand and marketing rights, Panasonic can ask any battery manufacturer to make some cells called "Eneloop," and indeed they will be "genuine" Eneloops. Panasonic controls what the definition of an "Eneloop" is... So, if it says Panasonic on it, it is real enough. But, unless it is actually made by FDK in Takasaki City, I would say that it is highly unlikely that the technology is the same.
It is possible, however, that FDK could expand their capacity or attempt to lower costs by establishing another manufacturing plant overseas. If so, such cells might use the exact same technology as the Takasaki plant.
Also, bear in mind that FDK is free to sell cells to anyone else in the world, so long as they don't say "Eneloop" on them. And, indeed they have made some attempt to sell what (according to HKJ's recent review) appears to be cells that are exactly the same as latest generation Panasonic Eneloops, under they own FDK brand.
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