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DrQuine
This is certainly a teaser article. Does 3x longer life mean that it goes three ...
Asus design win as Boston-Power raises $60 million
Peter Clarke
9/1/2010 5:30 AM EDT
LONDON – A rechargeable lithium-ion battery from Boston-Power Inc. that is claimed to offer three times the lifespan of typical notebook batteries has been designed into notebook computers from Asustek Computer Inc. (Asus).
The design win comes shortly after Boston-Power announced it had taken $60 million in Series E funding co-led by existing investors Foundation Asset Management (FAM) and Oak Investment Partners. Current investors Venrock and Gabriel Venture Partners also participated. Boston-Power (Westborough, Mass.), led by founder and CEO Christina Lampe-Onnerud, has attracted $185 million in investment since it was founded in 2005.
Boston-Power will use the growth capital to scale manufacturing, sales, marketing and research and development for its lithium-ion battery currently embodied in the company's Sonata and Swing battery systems. Targeting the multi-billion dollar market for notebook computer batteries, Sonata debuted in March 2009 as a part of a relationship between Boston-Power and Hewlett Packard.
Asustek (Taipei, Taiwan) has designed Sonata into its B-series notebook computers.
"Today, our portable computing devices are an extension of ourselves and integral to our work and leisure-time activities," said Boston-Power vice president of marketing Sally Bament, in a statement. "To fully capture the benefits of mobility, users are seeking dependable, high-performance, safe and environmentally sustainable batteries. Boston-Power has established a global reputation for leadership in delivering those solutions. Teaming with Asus is a tremendous endorsement of Sonata and our lithium-ion battery platform."
The Asus B53 is available immediately. The Asus B43 will be available in the near future, Boston-Power said.
Related links and articles:
Boston-Power signs up BMZ to make battery packs
Lithium-ion battery firm gets $55 million from VCs
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DrQuine
9/1/2010 9:13 AM EDT
This is certainly a teaser article. Does 3x longer life mean that it goes three times as long between charges or that the battery lasts three times as many years before it requires replacement? What is the price point compared with current technologies? Can it be placed in the same form factor as current batteries and be used as after market replacements / upgrades? What is known about the long term failure modes? Battery recalls for computer companies are incredibly expensive.
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