ZPower Unveils New Set of Silver-Zinc Microbatteries

ZPower, Inc., a company specializing in rechargeable silver-zinc batteries for mobile applications such as hearing aids, notebook computers and cellular phones, unveiled its automated assembly line for rechargeable microbatteries.

 “Several years ago hearing aid manufacturers requested we develop a high energy rechargeable battery for their next generation products to replace zinc-air and nickel metal-hydride technologies,” Ross Dueber, president and chief executive officer of ZPower, said.

 “Zinc-air batteries are non-rechargeable and require frequent replacement, while rechargeable nickel metal-hydride batteries can’t supply sufficient energy for a full day of operation in advanced, digital hearing aids. ZPower’s silver-zinc hearing aid batteries easily deliver a full day of use with convenient charging at night while users sleep. They also generate significantly less waste compared to disposable batteries, are fully recyclable, and are inherently safe,” Dueber added.

Estimated to have an annual production capacity of one million batteries, this new line of products is aimed to meet the initial demand from manufacturers of miniature electronic devices, like hearing aids, cochlear implants and computer watches, as they leverage rechargeable, silver-zinc in their new product designs.

Also the company is said to have completed development of the two most popular batteries used in hearing aids, sizes 13 and 312, with completion of the 10 and 675 sizes slated for 2011.

“Our high energy, silver-zinc technology is the key enabler for manufacturers to evolve their new product designs from disposable to rechargeable batteries,” Troy Renken, vice president of Product Planning and Electronics at ZPower said in a press release.

 “We are working with several semiconductor companies on charging solutions, and feel our product has potential application in many other premium electronic devices that could benefit from a non-lithium rechargeable microbattery,” Renken added.