Same Li-ion technology, but three times the lasting time. HP is today finally launching its Enviro Series notebooks with the tweaked technology inside. The batteries are provided by Boston-Power and are expected to last 1,000 charging cycles, compared to 300 or less from conventional lithium-ion batteries. The Sonata technology from Boston-Power, manufactured by GP Batteries in Hong Kong (see Boston-Power names Asian manufacturing partner), is an improved version of the traditional lithium-ion battery with twice the cell size and an enhanced manufacturing process. The Sonata costs $149, which is toward the high side for HP aftermarket batteries but in the spectrum. HP's batteries sell for $79 to $169 with most around the $120 mark. As previously announced, the new battery is the result of a three-year relationship between HP and Boston-Power. Boston-Power has recently received another $55 million in funding, and wants to put its technology in all kinds of mobile devices, including cars. In a increasingly wireless world, battery companies are eager to make profits laptop and mobile device makers. Most of these firms -- like ZPower, PowerGenix, Altair Nanotechnologies, A123 Systems and Imara -- are trying to improve or replace the basic lithium-ion battery. Meanwhile, Boston-Power is proving it is possible to spice up the capacity quite a bit on existing lithium-ion solutions. And even companies that aren't making batteries today, like Intel, are watching the boom potential of the battery industry with great interest. Former Intel CEO Andy Grove has said that he is urging Intel to get into the market for electric car batteries. Expect more laptop providers adopting the Sonata battery from Boston-Power during the next couple of months. HP is selling them with new laptops in the Enviro Series and as an optional choice with other laptop series later this month. The new Enviro Series laptops all come with a three-year warranty from HP, a sign of trust for the Boston-Power equipped product.