Old laptop batteries could power slums, IBM says

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-30345221

by yitchelle • 12 years ago

45 14 12 years ago

DigitalSea• 12 years ago

This is a wonderful effort that I hope IBM follow through with. This is an idea I have often thought of in my head on and off for years after seeing those battery recycling stations, but obviously being one individual, can't really make a difference.

Such an effort could also make people more proactively recycle their old laptop batteries, something I know a lot of people don't take the time to properly do, opting to instead throw it out into the garbage bin instead because it is easier. Heck, if we could create a program where people are paid a few cents for every battery they recycle like you can with bottles and aluminum cans in a lot of places in the world, we would have more than enough batteries for such a plan to scale.

mschuster912• 12 years ago

Germany has such a program already in place for lead-acid car starter batteries, where you pay a deposit of €7.50 and get it refunded upon return.

Might be a sensible idea for cellphone and laptop batteries, but I suspect that then thieves and other criminals will target cellphones for their batteries :(

miahi2• 12 years ago

I think this is an EU environmental program, as you find this in other EU countries too, in the same way and about the same money.

sdrothrock• 12 years ago

I'd think that if you stole a cell phone, the cell phone itself would be worth more than the €7.50 deposit...

stonogo• 12 years ago

This is the case in the United States as well. When you buy a battery, you pay a "core charge" which is refunded when you return the old battery you're replacing.

arbuge• 12 years ago

For this to work well, you'd probably also need some plan to ensure the world's slums don't become dumping grounds for old batteries. Perhaps some kind of program along the lines of "Here's a battery... you can keep it as long as you need it, but you need to return it to the depot here to get another one when it runs out."

lotsofmangos• 12 years ago

Unless it is a project to find a dumping ground for old batteries.

On a less cynical note, you do not need to provide an exchange program, dead batteries already have a recycling value, you just need to make sure that there is an accessible buyer and someone will make it their job to collect them all without you doing anything.

miahi2• 12 years ago

My father is using old laptop cells as portable power packs for many things; I usually send him all the dead laptop batteries I find, because in many cases there are only a couple of dead cells, the others are fine and can be reused. The problem is that 18650 cells (the ones you find in most laptop batteries) don't have an over-discharge protection circuit, so you can easily brick them if you don't add a protection circuit. You also have to be careful when charging them, as they can catch fire if you do it incorrectly.

zik• 12 years ago

Wouldn't it be more efficient to recycle them into new batteries that work well instead? Lithium batteries are relatively easy to recycle.

ams6110• 12 years ago

If a slum-dweller doesn't have power, how does he recharge batteries?

deserted• 12 years ago

India's demand for electricity exceeds it's supply. India's Electricity Authority reported power deficits of 8%.[1] This causes rolling blackouts. Some slums only have power a few hours a day, when demand in other areas is low.

[1] http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jul/31/india-blackout-...

bob917• 12 years ago

This is an incredibly worthwhile and interesting project posted on hn unlike far too many that are self-absorbed, pretentious, and a Silicon Valley pseudo entrepreneur bukake.

Old laptop batteries could power slums, IBM says

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