Imagine plugging in your portable device and being able to have it charged to 90% capacity in five minutes. Imagine this battery can last over ten years under heavy charging stress. Imagine this battery is far less likely to explode than the current Lithium-Ion batteries?

You're not dreaming. Toshiba is shipping their Super Charge ion Battery, or SCiB, in March. The SCiB batteries are designed for use in battery-powered bicycles, motorcycles, automated guided vehicles, electric forklift trucks and construction machinery. They are eventually planned for use in hybrid cars, too, though I could see a totally electric car with these batteries!

I wish I knew if this battery technology was feasible for smaller devices like our mobile phones or laptops. I'm sure Toshiba is trying to make that a reality.

Hat tip to Rich Tehrani