Hewlett-Packard announced that it would start offering a new line of “Enviro” laptop batteries in early 2009. The products are aimed at users wishing to enhance their machine with longer-lasting and more sustainably designed batteries. The new Sonata lithium-ion batteries have been tested by HP and Boston Power for three years.

The company says that the batteries specifically designed to be used on laptops are able to keep up to 80 percent of their original charge even after three years of use. The batteries can be charged up to about 1,000 times and get “like new” performance, states Boston Power. For comparison, the time of typical batteries is said to drop dramatically after around 150 charges.

According to an HP representative, the Sonata batteries should cost between $20 and $30 more than traditional batteries, while being available on custom consumer laptop machines. The batteries come with a three-year warranty and do not require system changes. In addition, the new Enviro batteries are said to be more environmentally friendly due to a series of reasons, stated Christina Lampe-Onnerud, founder and CEO of Boston Power.

As the company reveals, no PVC plastic or heavy metals (like cadmium, arsenic, or mercury) have been used in the manufacturing process of the batteries. Moreover, the new parts allow for recycling, while they have also received a range of green certificates, said Lampe-Onnerud. She added that using products which last longer rather than buying multiple products that last a shorter period of time is more environmentally sustainable and economical.

“Our tests found that 40 percent of consumers over three years have replaced laptop batteries up to five times. If each is $150, that's almost the cost of the whole system,” she said. “I think this will change the appetite for sustainable products. Instead of purchasing something expendable, they can have something that lasts.”

Lampe-Onnerud shared that Boston Power was negotiating with other computer manufacturers as well, but disclosed no names. The company announced its intentions to release a portable lithium-ion battery aimed at adding charge to cell phones or other gadgets. According to Lampe-Onnerud, the firm also plans entering the auto battery market.