A123Systems Inc. (Watertown, MA), a developer of lithium-ion batteries, unveiled its technology and announced that it is delivering batteries to power tool manufacturer Black and Decker Corp. for its DEWALT brand of power tools in a multi-year deal. The company claims that the nanotech-enabled batteries deliver up to 10 times longer cycle life, 5 times more power gains, a faster 5 minute charge time over conventional high-power battery technology. Validated by independent testing at Motorola and government research labs, A123Systems’ batteries use proprietary nanoscale electrode technology built on research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and that is exclusively licensed from MIT.
"A123's revolutionary technology will enable manufacturers to improve the performance and form factor of existing high-power portable devices, and to transform products currently dependent on power cords and sockets into a new class of portable devices," said A123Systems CEO and President David Vieau. "We expect that our technology will have the same impact on high-power products as the introduction of first generation lithium-ion technology had on the development and commercialization of consumer electronics in the 1990s."
A123Systems’ initial family of batteries is targeted at applications that require high power, high levels of safety, and longer life, including power tools, advanced medical devices, hybrid-electric vehicles, mobility products such as electric scooters, robotics, and consumer electronics. The company is working with the US Department of Energy as part of a major undertaking to develop battery materials for future use in hybrid-electric vehicles. In addition to its high-power products, A123Systems is working on a family of high-energy products that improves upon the performance of existing lithium-ion batteries used in notebook computers and cellular phones. This line of products will be introduced in 2006.
DEWALT is using A123systems’ battery in a new 36 V power tool platform that will provide increased levels of power and run time, at a similar or less weight than their corded counterparts. Available in 2006, the new power tool line will include a hammerdrill, reciprocating saw, circular saw, impact wrench, rotary hammer, jigsaw, flashlight, and combo kits.
