A new rechargeable AA battery that incorporates recycled materials and foregoes heavy metals goes on sale this week. PowerGenix' Nickel-Zinc batteries provide 30 percent higher voltage than traditional AA batteries, which benefits digital cameras by making them more responsive, according to the company. Retailer Ritz Camera has begun selling the batteries and chargers under the Quantaray Super Z brand.

PowerGenix' Nickel-Zinc batteries provide 30 percent higher voltage than traditional AA batteries, which benefits digital cameras by making them more responsive for rapid fire photography, according to the company. Retailer Ritz Camera has begun selling the batteries and chargers under the Quantaray Super Z brand.

PowerGenix batteries are applicable in several industries such as power tools and hybrid vehicles. The batteries are made without using lead, mercury and other heavy metals that can contribute to water and soil pollution if they are thrown away. The batteries are primarily made from recycled materials as well, reducing their carbon footprint and providing a market for materials that might otherwise have ended up in a landfill. 

The company is also developing cells for use in hybrid and electric vehicles based on its Nickel-Zinc technology. Battery performance over its entire life cycle has been a limiting factor thus far in electrified vehicles, so one has to wonder if the increases in power from one generation to the next might impact the long term performance.  

If not, regardless of the rechargeable features and recycled contents, if the vehicle battery lifetime is only a few years, it could end up being disposed of unless secondary uses, such as home power backup or to store intermittent wind or solar energy are developed.