Although most of the best-known portable devices available on the market nowadays are powered by rechargeable Li-Ion or Li-Polymer batteries, the truth of the matter is that there are quite a lot of consumer electronic products out there that still rely on the "old" AA alkaline batteries for power. And for this reason, Panasonic has just launched the EVOLTA, a brand new type of AA battery that has broken all records as far as functioning life is concerned.

According to the company's statement, these batteries are designed to work with a wide range of electronic products, from remote controls, portable radios and MP3 players to high-drain digital cameras and remote-controlled cars. Their enhanced capabilities are possible due to a new internal structure, which permits the storage of extra active materials and features an improved sealing technology, creating a more durable battery. Newly-developed active materials for the battery’s cathode (manganese dioxide and oxy-hydroxide titanium) and anode (zinc) facilitate a chemical reaction that delivers superior performance.

The new structure of the EVOLTA battery provides more internal space than Panasonic’s previous generation of batteries, allowing storage of extra active materials and incorporating an improved sealing technology, creating a more durable battery. Newly-developed active materials for its cathode (manganese dioxide and oxy-hydroxide titanium) and anode (zinc) facilitate a chemical reaction that delivers superior performance. To maximize the chemical reaction within the battery, Panasonic has improved the manufacturing process to pack active materials more evenly and densely.

Besides the normal, industry-standard tests for batteries, Panasonic has also conducted a few "practical" tests of its own, which were closely supervised by representatives from the Guinness World Records. The results were quite impressive, since a digital camera powered by EVOLTA batteries took 272 shots compared to 209 shots when powered by Panasonic’s current Alkaline Plus batteries, an FM radio played up to 14 hours longer when powered by two EVOLTA AAs while a remote-controlled car traveled as much as 8.7 miles farther when equipped with six EVOLTA AAs than when powered by Panasonic’s current Alkaline Plus batteries.

After enjoying quite a high level of success on the Japanese market (where they've been available since April), the new EVOLTA batteries will arrive in the US (and other parts of the world as well) in October. These AA and AAA batteries will be offered in four-packs and eight-packs and will sell for around 5 US dollars (the four-pack of AA or AAA EVOLTAs) or 9 dollars (the 8-pack).


We are just a few, but there are many of you, Softpedia users, out there. That's why we thought it would be a good idea to create an email address for you to help us a little in finding gadgets we missed. Interesting links are bound to be posted with recognition going mainly to those who submit. The address is .