Why AA Batteries Still Suck

Summary

In this video, the speaker reflects on the stagnation of AA batteries over the past few decades, contrasting them with the significant improvements in lithium-ion batteries. Despite advancements in technology, AA batteries remain largely unchanged due to their specific size, voltage, and cost requirements for low-power devices. The speaker explores why lithium-ion technology isn't easily applicable to AA batteries and concludes that AA batteries, though outdated, still serve their purpose in low-power devices. The future likely holds a continued reliance on AA batteries for certain uses, even as lithium-ion batteries dominate high-power devices.

Takeaways

• 😀 AA batteries have not significantly improved in the past decades, remaining roughly the same size, shape, and lifespan as they were in the '90s.
• 😀 While AA batteries have seen only modest improvements (20-30%) in energy capacity, lithium-ion batteries have improved by over 5 times in terms of energy density.
• 😀 The limited advancement in AA batteries is not due to a lack of technology or economics but rather due to the constraints of their design and usage.
• 😀 AA batteries must remain the same size and voltage (1.5V) to be compatible with older devices, limiting the possibility of using advanced battery technologies like lithium-ion.
• 😀 The main chemistry in AA batteries today is alkaline, but there have been other chemistries, such as zinc-carbon and nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), used in the past.
• 😀 NiMH rechargeable batteries have been around since the early 2000s and are nearly as good now as they were then, though some manufacturers have exaggerated their capabilities.
• 😀 Lithium-ion batteries are highly efficient and energy-dense but present challenges when trying to fit them into the AA battery form factor due to their higher voltage (3.6V-3.7V).
• 😀 To make lithium-ion batteries fit into AA slots, they would require a voltage regulator, which reduces their overall energy storage capacity and increases cost.
• 😀 AA batteries are cheap, low-margin products made in high volumes. More advanced batteries would raise costs, reducing consumer demand.
• 😀 Devices that require significant power already come with built-in lithium-ion batteries, and low-power devices (like remotes and toys) continue to use traditional AA batteries due to cost-effectiveness.
• 😀 While AA batteries may not see drastic improvements in the near future, they will remain a staple for low-energy devices, and the shift to lithium-ion batteries in high-energy devices is already well underway.

Q & A

Why do AA batteries seem to have stagnated in terms of improvement over the years?

AA batteries have barely improved because they have a long-established form factor and voltage (1.5V) that must remain unchanged for compatibility with devices. This restricts the ability to innovate with new battery chemistries that require different voltages or designs.

How much have AA batteries improved in terms of energy capacity since the 1990s?

AA batteries have only improved by about 20-30% in terms of energy capacity since the 1990s.

What is the major difference between lithium-ion batteries and AA batteries?

The major difference is that lithium-ion batteries have a much higher energy density and operate at a higher voltage (3.6-3.7V), while AA batteries are limited to 1.5V and are designed for low-power devices.

Why can’t we easily replace AA batteries with lithium-ion batteries in everyday devices?

Lithium-ion batteries have a higher voltage (3.6-3.7V) than AA batteries (1.5V), which would damage devices designed for AA batteries. Furthermore, lithium-ion cells would require additional components like voltage regulators, which would increase cost and decrease available space for energy storage.

What is the problem with rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries in the context of AA batteries?

NiMH batteries offer a similar energy capacity to alkaline batteries, and while they are rechargeable, their performance hasn’t significantly improved since the 2000s. Additionally, some manufacturers have exaggerated their capabilities, leading to consumer dissatisfaction.

What’s the role of voltage regulators in lithium-ion AA batteries, and why are they problematic?

Voltage regulators are used to step down the higher voltage of lithium-ion cells to the 1.5V needed for AA devices. They take up space inside the battery, reduce its overall energy capacity, and add to the cost of the battery.

Why haven’t AA batteries evolved more significantly despite the advancements in battery technology?

AA batteries haven’t evolved significantly because the devices they power, such as remotes and clocks, have very low energy demands. These devices don't require high-energy batteries, and there’s little consumer demand for AA batteries with significantly better performance.

What is the most significant change in battery technology over the past 40 years?

The most significant change in battery technology has been the development of lithium-ion batteries, which have seen a dramatic increase in energy density (five times better than 40 years ago), powering everything from phones to electric cars.

What makes AA batteries a 'commodity' product, and why does that affect their performance and price?

AA batteries are a commodity product because they are mass-produced in high volumes, sold at low margins, and used in low-power devices. This limits the incentive for manufacturers to invest in improving them, as more expensive alternatives would result in reduced sales volume.

Why does the script mention that 'we might still be using AA batteries 50 years from now'?

The script suggests that AA batteries will likely remain in use because certain low-power devices, like remotes and toys, don’t require advanced battery technology. They’re cheap and efficient for those specific uses, and there will always be a market for them.