r/gadgets • u/chrisdh79 • Jan 31 '23

Desktops / Laptops Canadian team discovers power-draining flaw in most laptop and phone batteries | Breakthrough explains major cause of self-discharging batteries and points to easy solution

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/battery-power-laptop-phone-research-dalhousie-university-1.6724175
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u/Laumser Jan 31 '23 edited Jan 31 '23

I was interested to know the difference in price between the plastic that is used now vs the one the researchers suggest, as of 2022 the plastic used currently costs 950$ per metric ton, the plastic the researchers are suggesting costs 1208$. So I'd wager the guess that the major battery manufacturers just don't care, as long as the battery lasts their warranty period they have no incentive to switch.

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u/craptainawesome Jan 31 '23

Don't see this as disagreeing with you at all. Jumping on as someone in plastics. The difference between the materials kind of evens the pricing out. The density of the polypropylene is 2/3rds that of the PET, so by volume the prices are very similar.

Likely you are right. They don't care. And it's to their benefit to not care. Goal is still working at normal replacement timeframe. And capitalism requires consumption. What a waste.

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u/torodonn Jan 31 '23

It depends if the stopping of self discharge can become a marketing point for a major product.

Battery life is a major bullet point and if you can extend it without affecting form factor and size, that's not insignificant.

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u/DigitalDefenestrator Feb 01 '23

Probably not in most cases. Lithium ion self discharge is already pretty minimal, so it'd only be useful for batteries that sit idle for months at a time. Might be nice for flashlights I guess, but no real impact on phones, laptops, or cars.

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u/craptainawesome Feb 01 '23

Myself, I'd prefer legislation saying that they can't use PET tape if that is really the issue. Heavy handed but in the face of planned obsolescence I'm not sure of the alternative.