Are Zinc Batteries Going Big Time? PowerGenix Just Passed Two Big Tests

The concept of rechargeable zinc batteries have been around since Thomas Edison. It’s too bad the batteries themselves haven’t worked very well.

Start-up PowerGenix, however, says the picture is changing and to prove its point, the company announced that its nickel zinc rechargeables have passed two crucial milestones. Underwriters Laboratory said that the company’s batteries have passed safety and reliability tests. During the examination, the batteries were subjected to shock, vibration, crush, projectile, impact and discharge tests under extreme temperatures. Oh, and short circuiting tests.

The company’s batteries have also been certified for recycling by the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp., a nonprofit that organizes recycling standards for batteries.

So what’s it all mean? That PowerGenix’s nickel-zinc batteries can be sold in largely the same channels as other rechargeable batteries, such as lithium-ion and nickel metal hydride batteries. PowerGenix says its batteries can provide 30 percent more power than regular nickel batteries while weighing less. And they won’t burst into flames like lithium ion batteries (or Super Bowl halftime performers.) The company is designing batteries for both the portable market (i.e cell phones and power tools) and plug-in hybrids.

Plus, zinc is a just a fun element all the way around.

It’s been a long, hard road. PowerGenix has touted its batteries for years, but only started shipping commercially this Spring. Another company, ZPower (formerly Zinc Matrix Power) has similarly had to work tinker with its chemistry for years.