Instant, Stand-Alone Battery Power In The Spotlight

By Penny Gill On Dec 19 2005 - 8:00am

More and more consumers are embracing the benefits of rechargeable batteries — but still face a power problem when they have no access to a charger with an outlet. As a result, manufacturers are stepping up to the plate to address the need for instant, stand-alone power.

Compact Power Systems, for one, has expanded its Cellboost line from the original power devices for cellphones to an assortment of Cellboost products for camcorders, iPods, PSPs and GameBoys. The line will expand even further at International CES next month.

“We'll be introducing rechargeable pieces for portable DVD players, laptops, the new iPod nano and the PSP, as well as a rechargeable version of Cellboost for camcorders,” said Rodney Rad, marketing director for the Woodland Hills, Calif.-based company. “All the new products will be shipping within the first or second quarter, and will expand our ability to give consumers power anytime and anywhere.”

Xantrex is also meeting the need for stand-alone battery power to recharge or run devices. The company's new XPower Pocket Powerpack 100 weighs less than 2.4 pounds and fits easily in a laptop or other bag, said the company. It can recharge a Blackberry 30 times, an iPod 20 times, a cellphone at least eight times or provide up to 2.5 hours of additional run-time for most laptops without plugging into an outlet, said the Vancouver, British Columbia-based Xantrex.

“We're now working on a second generation of the Powerpack, which will go to a lithium-ion polymer chemistry from [nickel metal-hydride],” said Grant Dunbar, product marketing manager. “It will be a little more expensive but will decrease the weight by more than half, which will improve the portability.”

Xantrex's new Powerpack, like the original, will operate or recharge a wide variety of mobile consumer electronics products through AC or DC from a USB power outlet. It will be showcased at CES.