Next-gen dry cell may double the power

Tokyo - Matsushita Battery Industrial Co. Ltd. unveiled dry-cell batteries last week and showed off their power by harnessing two AA cells to run an 18.5-kg (41-pound) tricycle-like demonstration car, with driver, almost three quarters of a mile. The company said the Oxyride batteries have 1.5 to 2 times the performance of available alkaline dry-cell batteries.

"The Oxyride dry-cell battery is the first breakthrough in 40 years," said Yoji Kajikawa, president of the Primary Battery Co., a part of Matsushita Battery.

Using new materials for the anode along with new production processes, Matsushita said that the battery will provide twice the performance of alkaline batteries for applications that require high electric current, such as digital still cameras. One Matsushita digital camera took 315 pictures when powered by Oxyride batteries, compared with 144 photos with alkaline batteries.

For applications using a small electric current, such as MP3 players and portable stereos, Oxyride was almost 1.5 times better than alkaline cells, the company said.

Matsushita said it will begin marketing AA Oxyride dry cells in Japan in April and AAA cells next spring, eventually expanding sales worldwide.

"Though the applications that use rechargeable batteries are increasing, demand for dry cells is still strong because people can use them anytime, anywhere, without worrying about charging," Kajikawa said.

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