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SANYO Presents 'eneloop'
:
A New Battery in place of Dry Cell Battery for the 21st
Century
First ‘Think GAIA’ product
- To be on sale from November 14, 2005 |
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Tokyo, Nov. 1, 2005-----SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (SANYO), the world
leader in rechargeable batteries, announced a new next-generation
nickel metal hydride battery ‘eneloop’ to be sold from
November 14, 2005. This is the first product based on SANYO’s
new vision, ‘Think GAIA’.
‘eneloop’ is a product that proposes a new lifestyle
- one without disposing of batteries. Once charged, it can be used
repeatedly, and once used completely, it can be recycled. To promote
this kind of new battery lifestyle, SANYO developed a world first*1
rechargeable battery that can be used like a dry cell battery -
‘immediately after purchase’.
Based on its new vision ‘Think GAIA’, SANYO is simultaneously
pursuing solutions for a comfortable living and consideration for
the environment and would continue providing ‘Global Energy
Solutions’ and ‘LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability)
Solutions’.
Product Name |
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Product |
AA Nickel Metal Hydride Battery |
AAA Nickel Metal Hydride Battery |
Model Number |
HR-3UTG-2BP
(Pack of 2 batteries) |
HR-3UTG-4BP
(Pack of 4 batteries) |
HR-3UTG-8BP
(Pack of 8 batteries) |
HR-4UTG-2BP
(Pack of 2 batteries) |
HR-4UTG-4BP
(Pack of 4 batteries) |
Manufacturer
Suggested
Retail Price |
1,155 yen
(Before tax 1,100 yen) |
Open price |
Open price |
945 yen
(Before tax 900 yen) |
Open price |
Start of Sales |
November 14, 2005 |
January 21, 2006 |
Monthly Production*2 |
1,000,000 Units |
200,000 Units |
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*1: According to SANYO Research, for Nickel
Metal Hydride batteries on the market as of Nov. 1, 2005
*2: Figure based on SANYO brand products sold in Japan only
*3: Battery life based on testing methods established by JIS
C8708 2004(4.4) (varies according to conditions of use) |
*SANYO is also introducing a quick charger set for ‘eneloop’
batteries.
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Product |
Compact quick charger set |
|
Model number |
N-MDR02S
(Two AA ‘eneloop’ batteries included) |
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Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price |
Open price |
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Start of Sales |
November 14, 2005 |
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| 1. |
‘Immediately usable’ new
rechargeable battery
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Batteries have a property to release the stored energy
in small amounts (this phenomenon is called ‘self-discharge’).
This property is particularly noticeable in rechargeable
batteries such as Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries etc.
as compared to dry cell batteries, hence disabling rechargeable
batteries from becoming batteries that ‘customers
can use immediately after purchase’. For this reason,
rechargeable batteries couldn’t be used unless charged
after purchase and so lagged behind dry cells in convenience.
This new product’s main property is that it has
introduced great improvements in self-discharge properties
(residual ratio after one year of non use is 85%*4, in
temperature conditions of 20 degree Celsius according
to SANYO research). Through this breakthrough development,
SANYO has realized a rechargeable battery that can challenge
dry cell batteries in user-friendliness through features
such as making possible use immediately after purchase
or once charged, its ability to be used anytime. SANYO
has been a market leader in nickel metal hydride batteries
for the consumer market. The synergy of the following
proprietary technologies of SANYO in developing high
capacity products has made the successful development
of ‘eneloop’ possible:
1. high-performance negative electrode ‘superlattice
alloy’
2. make-up of battery material and battery plates
3. maintain quality despite being out of use for
a long time
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These are a few of the technologies that have helped
contain self-discharge during the period for which the
battery is not in use. Furthermore, it also inhibits
voltage reduction even after a long period of being
out of use.
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| 2. |
An Environment-friendly product right
from the battery to the packaging
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In order to decrease the amount of waste
to the least possible after the product is purchased,
SANYO has achieved with this product, an eco-friendly
product design, right from the battery itself to its packaging.
| (1) |
Can be used several times over, eliminating the
hassle of disposing of batteries.
As a next-generation rechargeable battery that can
be ‘used immediately after purchase’,
and once charged, ‘can be used anytime’,
‘eneloop’ can be used in all devices
that till date use dry cell batteries. Moreover,
being rechargeable, ‘eneloop’ can be
used 1000 times*3 over and without the need to dispose
of the dry cell battery each time it is used up,
it greatly reduces the troubles involved in the
‘storage and disposal of used dry cell batteries’.
Consequently, it makes a remarkable contribution
to the reduction of 70,000 tons*5 of used dry cell
batteries disposed annually in Japan alone.
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| (2) |
Environment-friendly design that enables recycling,
contributing to conservation of natural resources.
Being a rechargeable battery, ‘eneloop’
has a proper structure for recycling organized by
industry groups, unlike dry cell batteries. Once
used, ‘eneloop’ is collected, as rechargeable
batteries have been, through prescribed recycle
boxes installed at 30,000*6 electronics retailers
throughout the country. Also, through an environment-friendly
design, precious resources such as nickel etc. can
be reused, thus contributing to efficient use and
saving of resources.
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| (3) |
Use of particularly environment-friendly and user-friendly
battery tube and new package
SANYO has created a tube and external packaging
that is free from polyvinyl chloride. The outside
packaging made with careful regard to the environment
uses recycled PET material and only this material,
thus eliminating any hassles when separating garbage
at the time of disposal. Moreover, with a whole
new original design of the battery tube and package,
the battery pack is bound to change your image of
battery packaging. Bearing in mind the reusability
of the battery, the revolutionary design of the
package makes the storage of these batteries more
convenient after it has been opened.
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| 3. |
Comparatively more powerful and longer-lasting
than dry cell batteries. Superior low-temperature electrical
discharge performance
| ‘eneloop’ has been designed
so as to extract a lot more power as compared to dry cell
batteries. An experiment performed on SANYO’s digital
camera shows that using ‘eneloop’ can take
4.4 times*7 more pictures than a dry cell battery. Even
under low temperature conditions (0 degree Celsius), when
it is usually difficult for dry cell batteries to produce
power, ‘eneloop’ displays superior power characteristics
and longer power, making it a natural choice for outdoor
use at ski resorts etc. |
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| 4. |
Economically more efficient than dry
cell batteries, ‘eneloop’ can be used 1000 times
over. Also, no need to worry about memory effect.
| By recharging the ‘eneloop’,
it can be used 1000 times*3 over and is comparatively
more efficient economically than the use once and throw
away dry cell batteries. Furthermore, the memory effect
has only minor effects on the devices it is used on and
hence can be used without worrying about the memory effect. |
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Product name |
‘eneloop’ |
|
Product |
AA Nickel Metal Hydride Battery |
AAA Nickel Metal Hydride Battery |
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Model Number |
HR-3UTG |
HR-4UTG |
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Nominal Voltage |
1.2V |
1.2V |
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Nominal Capacity*8 |
2000mAh |
800mAh |
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Rated Capacity*9 |
1900mAh |
750mAh |
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Dimensions |
14.35 mm (diameter) X 50.4 mm (height)
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10.5 mm (diameter) X 44.5mm (height) |
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Weight |
Approximately 27g |
Approximately 13g |
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Product |
Compact rapid charger |
Model Number |
NC-MDR02 |
Voltage/Frequency |
AC100-240V/50-60Hz |
Charge Time |
applicable
batteries
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Charge Time |
1-2 batteries |
‘eneloop’ |
AA HR-3UTG (typ.2000mAh, min.1900mAh)
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approx. 230 min. |
AAA HR-4UTG (typ.800mAh, min.750mAh)
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approx. 135 min. |
Ni
MH |
AA HR-3UB (typ.2300mAh, min.2150mAh)
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approx. 265 min. |
AA HR-3UA (typ.2100mAh, min.2000mAh)
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approx. 240 min. |
AA HR-3UND (typ.1700mAh, min.1600mAh)
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approx. 195 min. |
AAA HR-4UF (typ.900mAh, min.840mAh)
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approx. 150 min. |
AAA HR-4UA (typ.750mAh, min.700mAh)
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approx. 125 min. |
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Indication Light |
Charging:LED on
Fully Charged:LED off |
Dimensions |
70.5(W) × 27.5 (D) × 74.5(H)
mm |
Weight |
Approx. 76 grams |
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*1: According to SANYO Research, for Nickel Metal Hydride batteries
on the market as of Nov. 1, 2005
*2: Figure based on SANYO brand products sold in Japan only
*3: Battery life based on testing methods established by JIS C8708
2004(4.4) (varies according to conditions of use)
| *4: |
Simulation test based on a fully charged AA ‘eneloop’
battery left for one year at temperature conditions of 20 degree
Celsius (Discharge condition: 740mA(E.V.=1.0V). Moreover, the
product in use is SANYO’s HR-3UF (Typ. 2500 mAh, Min.
2300 mAh). |
*5: According to Battery Association of Japan’s website
*6: According to JBRC’s website
| *7: |
Compared to SANYO’s alkaline manganese dry cell battery
(LR-6G). Conditions: Using SANYO’s DSC-S4 digital camera.
One picture every 20 sec. using the flash one out of every three
times, LCD on, room temperature. However, depending on the camera
and the conditions, the number of pictures will vary. |
*8: Actual capacity based on charge/discharge levels as established
by JIS C8708 2004 (4.2.1)
*9: Minimum Battery capacity based on charge/discharge levels as established
by JIS C8708 2004 (4.2.1) |
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