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18-11-2015, 03:20 PM
Huawei Teases Fast-Charging Batteries
by Stephanie Mlot
by Stephanie Mlot
The lithium-ion batteries can charge up to 10 times faster than normal ones. Huawei didn't say when they'd arrive.
Even if you can find an unoccupied outlet in the coffee shop to plug in your dying phone, getting to 100 percent takes time. That is, unless you have one of Huawei's new quick-charging batteries, unveiled last week during an event in Japan.
The lithium-ion batteries can charge up to 10 times faster than normal batteries, Huawei says, reaching about 50 percent capacity in five minutes.
At the 56th Battery Symposium in Nagoya, Huawei presented videos of two fast-charging power packs. The first, a 600mAh capacity battery, can be charged to 68 percent in two minutes. Another, sporting a 3,000mAh battery, charges to 48 percent in five minutes, allowing for 10 hours of calls on Huawei phones.
Built by Watt Lab—part of the Central Research Institute at China's Huawei Technology Corporation—the batteries allow for an increased charging rate without decreasing energy density or long-term battery life.
"Huawei is confident that this breakthrough in quick-charging batteries will lead to a new revolution in electronic devices, especially with regard to mobile phones, electric vehicles, wearable devices, and mobile power supplies," the company said. "Soon, we will all be able to charge our batteries to full power in the time it takes to grab a coffee!"
There is no word, however, on how soon that will be; Huawei did not reveal when the new batteries will be released for commercial use. But it could be a while, Engadget pointed out, citing the bulky accessory (seen in the videos) required to actually charge a removable battery.
Still in its infancy, fast-juicing battery packs are becoming increasingly popular among tech firms. Qualcomm in September announced Quick Charge 3, which promises to take your battery from zero to 80 percent in 35 minutes. The new feature will be introduced on phones with the Snapdragon 820 processor.
