NiMH Batteries

We’re addicted to disposable batteries … and that’s a bad thing.

There’s a much better alternative to those standard one-time-use alkalines, but the technology just doesn’t get the shelf space it deserves. NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries can be recharged hundreds upon hundreds of times. Every NiMH battery you buy can easily save you a hundred bucks. Just take a few moments to think about how much you’ve spent on batteries over the past year …

Now I'm not saying that there's an active conspiracy to rip us off and poison the environment, but when is the last time you saw a NiMH battery display (of substance) at the checkout line at your local supermarket or convenience store?

I picked up an eight-pack of conventional AAs at the market last week. I was standing in line at the register when I remembered that the kid needed batteries for his R/C car controller. I bit my tongue when I looked over to see the eight-pack ring up at over five dollars.

That's right, kids ... five dollars for eight batteries. How convenient.

Fast forward ...

Yesterday, we stopped at Home Depot on the way home from the NYC Auto Show today (where the batteries in the digital camera so kindly went dead the moment we stepped in the door).

I needed to pick up a bucket of thinset for my latest ceramic tile project. As we're standing in the checkout line, the boy says "Hey Dad, lets get some more batteries!" Of course, there was not a single AA NiMH to be found. But there was a crazy deal on Alkaline Energizer AAs -- a 32-pack for just under $13. Seeing as how we were still short on AAs, I bought the brick. Gee ... what a deal ... not.

Now lets do some simple math.

For arguments sake, we'll say that a four pack of high-quality AA rechargeable NiMH batteries costs twelve bucks. That's three bucks for one AA NiMH. Lets say you only get 300 charges out of that battery. That's one penny per virtual life.

If I bought ten bargain 32-packs of conventional AAs today (for a total of 320 batteries), it would have cost me roughly $130 plus tax.

Okay, so maybe I'm rounding, but $3 vs $130 is pretty clear cut. NiMH batteries are the winner. And that's before we get to the environmental issue.

Throwing batteries into the landfill is a terrible thing to do. In our county, we're required to recycle dead batteries. Our local government officials ask that we place our dead batteries into a plastic bag that is placed at the curb every two weeks with our recycling bucket. Our tax dollars pay for recycling those dead batteries.

With NiMH battery technology, only one battery needs to be recycled vs hundreds of conventional.

Now if only I could get my wife and kids to stop throwing the things out by mistake ...

Posted by geekbooks at April 1, 2005 07:49 AM

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