Linogy

Ni-MH rechargeables have been on the market for more than 30 years, but their 1.2V output can leave some devices underpowered, and their self-discharge makes them a poor fit for long-term storage. Linogy's answer is a lithium-ion cell that, according to the maker, delivers 1.5V, the same nominal voltage as a disposable alkaline battery, so clocks, remotes, digital cameras and game controllers can run as designed.

Capacity and discharge

The maker rates the AA cell at 3600mWh, crediting what it calls a CBPI™ structure and the energy density of lithium-ion. Tested at a 0.2C discharge rate with a 1.0V cutoff, the cells are said to show a discharge curve similar to alkaline batteries, with up to 12 hours of continuous use in everyday scenarios. On self-discharge, the campaign claims Linogy retains more than 88% of its charge after a year in storage, compared with typical Ni-MH cells dropping to 30% over 12 months.

Charger and safety

The charging station is designed to handle lithium-ion, Ni-MH and Ni-Cd rechargeables, including cells from Eneloop, Paleblue, EBL and Amazon Basics, according to the maker. Linogy cells are said to fully charge in 3 hours versus 6 hours for conventional Ni-MH. The page also mentions an automatic ejection system.

• Built-in protections: explosion-proof module, anti-leak ring and an intelligent chip
• Drop test: a 9kg steel block dropped from 1 metre onto the cell with no smoke, leakage or explosion, per the maker
• 6 layers of protection in the charging station
• Up to 1200 charge cycles per cell

Materials

The maker says the charger housing uses UL-certified recycled polycarbonate (RC-65), 65% of it post-consumer material, and that packaging is plastic-free kraft paper printed with biodegradable water-based ink. The Essential Power Kit described in the campaign includes an 8-bay charger, eight AA cells and four AAA cells. Linogy also states that feedback from more than 8,000 users shaped development.