What Causes Batteries For Laptops To Depreciate Faster Than Batteries In Other Portable Devices?

Batteries for laptops have a unique composition - they must be compact and lightweight. In an ideal world, laptop batteries should be invisible to the user and deliver enough power to endure a six-hour flight from New York to Seattle. But we know with most laptop computer batteries, this is rarely the case. Typical laptop computer batteries are designed to provide only a couple hours of service, and many of us complain of much shorter runtimes.

Computer manufacturers are hesitant to introduce a larger replacement laptop battery to the unit because of increased battery size and weight. A recent survey indicated that, given the option of a larger, heavier battery for longer runtimes, most users would settle for the lighter laptop battery that is being utilized today. Some of the lightest and highest performing are common in the Toshiba laptop battery as well as the Acer laptop battery. For better or worse, we have learned to accept the short runtime of a laptop battery.

Laptop batteries age more quickly than in other applications because of heat. During use, the inside temperature of a laptop can rise up to 45°C (113°F). The combination of high temperature and the battery’s full state-of-charge promotes cell oxidation, a condition that cannot be reversed once present. The battery’s life expectancy when operating at high temperature is half compared to a battery running at a more moderate 20°C (68°F) temperature. Leaving the laptop computer battery in a parked car under the hot sun, for example, will aggravate the situation.

While all batteries suffer permanent capacity loss as part of elevated temperatures, lithium-ion batteries are affected more than other batteries. Most laptops are powered by lithium-ion batteries, such as the HP laptop battery. The chemistry in a lithium-ion battery has a high energy density and is lightweight. Alas, there is no immediate breakthrough on the horizon of a miracle battery that would provide more power than the current electro-chemical battery.

So remember, keep your laptop battery out of the sun!

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