Over the past few days, reports have resurfaced that the EU will require phones to have replaceable batteries. These reports are based on 2023 legislation with an implementation date of 2027. I won’t go into all the details here, but this legislation covers removable batteries, and many phones are exempt from it anyway.
Before dismissing everything, this type of report offers the opportunity to talk about another type of replaceable battery: the humble alkaline battery. Disposable, non-rechargeable batteries have been an integral part of our lives for years, powering everything from game controllers to toys, flashlights, clocks, scales, smart locks and more.
According to Market Reports World, in 2023, 8.5 billion AA alkaline batteries were sold (50% of the alkaline market), with AAA batteries coming in second and other sizes following.
These batteries will all, at some point, end up being thrown away, which represents a huge amount of waste. Unfortunately, many batteries are thrown away. According to Business Waste, the UK battery recycling rate is just 33-35%.
Cheap to buy, but still disposable
One of the things covered by the aforementioned EU regulation (New Battery Regulation 2023/1542) is alkaline batteries, with improved waste collection targets, restrictions on hazardous ingredients and improved life cycle assessments.
That’s all well and good, but the question should be: why are there so many alkaline batteries?
Part of the reason is that manufacturers routinely include a set of batteries with their remotes, so you can get started right away.
These gifts are just a drop in the ocean, but alkaline batteries are given because they have a long shelf life and hold their charge for years. Typically, alkaline batteries are sold with a shelf life promise of more than five years, and some even have a shelf life of ten years.
This gives a degree of reliability that rechargeable alternatives simply can’t compete with.
This type of shelf life means that alkaline batteries are also very convenient to have around the house. When a device runs out of power, quickly replace the batteries in the cabinet and you’re good to go.
And alkaline batteries are cheap to buy, especially in bulk. In fact, online wholesale sales have increased (the 24- and 48-pack variants saw a 17% year-over-year increase according to Market Reports World). Looking on Amazon, for example, a pack of 40 AA batteries costs £9.03, or 23p per battery.
Switching to rechargeable batteries and standard NiMH batteries will cost you over £1 per battery. Smaller packs are available because you don’t need as many batteries.
Over its lifespan, one of our best rechargeable batteries will endure many charge cycles (i.e. charge them, use them, then do it all again). Say, for example, you get 1,000 charge cycles (that’s about average, but some offer 1,500 cycles or more), that means each rechargeable battery does the work of 1,000 alkaline batteries; in fact, it’s like paying less than 0.1p per battery.
Having a battery charger comes at a cost and some inconvenience while waiting for the batteries to charge. NiMH batteries also don’t hold their charge as long as alkaline batteries (although most hold 80-90% of their charge for months, so you can have a spare set charged and ready to use). These factors partly explain why rechargeable batteries are not routinely used everywhere, but there are other factors.
Some devices hate rechargeable batteries
Using AA batteries as an example, rechargeable NiMH and alkaline versions may be the same size (well, give or take a few mm), but internally they are different.
Alkaline batteries are rated at 1.5V, but the voltage drops as the battery is depleted, with a faster drop under high loads and a slower drop under low loads (a clock, remote control, or even a smart lock, where the device remains largely inactive). NiMH batteries produce a sustained voltage of 1.2 V until the battery is almost exhausted, so they are best suited for continuous charging.
The problem is that some devices simply hate rechargeable batteries. My Yale Linus smart door lock runs on four AA batteries, but it constantly complains about low battery life every time I try to put four rechargeable batteries in it.
Image credit (trusted reviews)
Likewise, I bought a radio-controlled alarm clock. Insert two rechargeable AA batteries and the clock comes to life, but it refuses to set the time automatically.
Then there are devices like smoke detectors which, for safety reasons, require alkaline batteries, more for longevity.
Li-ion batteries could be the future, but compatibility issues remain.
More recently, rechargeable Li-ion batteries have become available, such as the Paleblue AA USB-C rechargeable batteries. More expensive than NiMH batteries, these can be recharged via USB, produce a constant 1.5V and hold their charge better.
On paper, these seem like the ideal replacement for alkaline batteries. And, in many cases, it is. My Yale Linus lock no longer complains about low batteries and is very happy with a set of Li-ion batteries.
The range of rechargeable batteries is also very good: Paleblue and other manufacturers offer AA, AAA, 9V, C, D and CR123A versions. Since most charge via USB-C, you don’t even need fancy compatible chargers.
Prices are higher than NiMH batteries, but with approximately 1,000 charge cycles per battery, the lifetime cost is much lower than equivalent alkaline batteries. A typical set of four AA Li-ion batteries can cost around £20, but over 1,000 charge cycles this works out to 2p per battery.
That’s the good news. The bad news is that some devices are still very picky about which batteries they will run on. The aforementioned clock will also not automatically set the time if it contains a set of Li-ion batteries; switch to alkaline batteries, and it works perfectly.
I tried going green by using Type C Li-ion batteries in my SureFlap Connect microchip cat flap. Everything seemed to work, but the door would only unlock for two of my three cats.
Sureflap Connect Inside Pet Door Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)
It appears the microchip sensor was not working at full power and my cat’s microchip may be in a slightly different location or buried a little deeper. For some reason I cannot use rechargeable batteries with this product.
I tried with the Sure Microchip Pet Feeder Connect but it refused to open for the same cat so he couldn’t get his food.
In some cases, manufacturers specifically state that rechargeable batteries should not be used. In fact, Paleblue has a disclaimer to this effect on its 9V page stating that “most manufacturers of smoke detectors and carbon dioxide detectors do not recommend using rechargeable batteries in their products.”
Devices should be required to run on rechargeable batteries
Whether by design, mistake, or requirement, too many devices simply don’t work on rechargeable batteries at all, and that’s not enough. The default position should be that all devices are manufactured to run on rechargeable batteries, even if a requirement is added that a device is only compatible with Li-ion.
We’ve banned disposable vapes in this country (partly due to environmental concerns and also youth addiction), but disposable batteries still seem like a good thing. Given the number of battery-powered devices, it’s time to do more to ensure compatibility and reduce the amount of waste we produce.
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