A U.S. battery manufacturer has announced it will produce lithium ion batteries for wireless telecommunications devices, delving into a market previously dominated by Japanese companies such as Sony Battery and Toshiba Corp.
Eveready Battery Co. said it will build lithium ion rechargeable batteries for portable communications devices in a $70 million factory under construction in Gainesville, Fla. The batteries are scheduled to be available in the spring of 1997.
“We’ve been evaluating the opportunities in this marketplace, where demand has increased significantly and exceeds supply,” said George Gerwe, manager of marketing programs for Energizer Power Systems, a division of Eveready.
Lithium ion batteries are lighter than the nickel cadmium or nickel metal hydride batteries commonly used in cellular phones and other wireless devices today. Also, lithium batteries are said to have a higher energy capacity, allowing more use between charges.
Motorola Inc. first introduced a product with lithium ion batteries in the MicroTac Elite in the summer of 1994, and recently with the new StarTac. “These batteries have enabled us to bring down the weight and size of the phone product,” said David Pinsky, spokesman for the Motorola Cellular Subscriber Group.
The StarTac is 3.1 ounces with one slim main lithium ion battery furnishing 60 minutes of talk time and 12 hours of standby time. But the phone can hold two batteries, one in the back and another in the front. “It works off the auxiliary battery first, and when that is depleted, a light comes on and it switches to the main battery so you never lose your call. The batteries are so small you can carry them around in your pocket and even change while you’re on a call,” Pinsky said. Lithium chargers can charge three batteries at once, two in the phone and one additional battery.
Eveready hopes to participate in the original equipment manufacturer market. “Our market research shows that consumers are demanding lightweight, longer lasting devices,” said Joe McClanathan, vice president for Energizer Power Systems. “Lithium ion batteries will help OEMs meet these consumer needs.”
Eveready said lithium batteries are expected to increase its presence in the portable communications market; annual worldwide sales for that segment are expected to rise from 99 million units to 220 million units, Eveready said.
Sony Electronics Inc., through its alliance with Qualcomm Inc., is producing a Code Division Multiple Access cellular phone that will use lithium ion batteries manufactured by Sony. The phone is expected to weigh about 8.9 ounces.
Toshiba Corp. announced a joint venture with Japan’s Asahi Chemical Co. in 1992 to build lithium ion batteries. Sanyo also produces lithium ion batteries.
