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Just when it appeared old-fashioned alkaline battery technology had reached the end of its developmental lifespan, Panasonic introduced a line of AA and AAA batteries that blew the doors off the competition. Problem was, the new buff batteries were sold only in Japan. But that's about to change. The company announced today that it would begin hawking its Evolta line in the United States, and they should be reaching retailers next month.

Recognized by the Guiness Book of World Records as the "longest lasting AA alkaline battery," Panasonic has made a number of improvements in the cells to boost their performance. For example, by creating more space within the battery, there's more room for more of the active material that creates electricity. Not only is there more room, but its better utillized through a manufacturing process that distributes the cell's active materials more densely and evenly in the package. Additionally, the cells use new active materials for both their cathode (manganese dioxide and oxy-hydroxide titanium) and anode (zinc) parts that extend their life.

Here's some results from tests conducted by Panasonic on the batteries.

• A digital camera powered by Evolta batteries took 272 shots compared with 209 shots when powered by Panasonic's current Alkaline Plus batteries--an increase of 30%.
• An FM radio played up to 14 hours longer when powered by two Evolta AA batteries than when powered by Panasonic's current Alkaline Plus batteries.
• A remote-controlled car traveled as much as 8.7 miles farther when equipped with six Evolta AA's than when powered by Panasonic's current Alkaline Plus batteries.

"I believe that Evolta is the ultimate power solution for any and all consumers that will enhance everyday life by delivering superior portable energy solutions," Panasonic Battery Corp. of America Vice President of Sales and Marketing Matt Sora said in a statement.

Suggested retail price for a four-pack of Evolta AAs is expected to be around $4.49. That compares favorably with a quad pack of Duracells, which sell for around $5.29.

Batteries are the bane of anyone who uses electronic gizmos of any genre so promises of hassle reducing power solutions are hard to ignore--even when they're couched in mystery. A case in point: an announcement today by methanol fuel cell maker MTI Micro, of Albany, New York, that it has cut a deal with "a global Japanese developer of products utilizing advanced optical and digital technologies, including digital cameras" to adapt MTI's Mobion fuel cell technology "for use in various precision imaging applications, including digital cameras."

"MTI Micro has now signed agreements with two global OEMs that operate within two of the three largest consumer electronic segments - mobile phones and digital cameras," the company's CEO Peng Lim said in a statement. "We are pleased that our Mobion platform may potentially power devices in these two segments."

Fuel cells have a number advantages over the current ubiquitous power plant for mobile electronics, the lithium ion battery. One edge is they don't have to be recharged. You can remove a methanol cartridge from a cell, pop another in and you're good to go. Another plus is they won't blow up in your face. What's more, they're far greener than chemical batteries. They're so safe that the U.S. Department of Transportation has already approved them for air travel--even though they're not expected to hit the mainstream until next year.

New federal rules for traveling with lithium batteries went into effect on New Year's Day, according to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation. It says that spare lithium batteries--that is, batteries not in a device--may not be packed in checked baggage when boarding a plane, but they can be packed in carry-on luggage. However, there are limits on how much lithium the carry-on batteries may contain, but almost all consumer batteries contain lithium amounts below those limits. "[I]f you are unsure," the agency warns, "contact the manufacturer!"

Inserting a battery into a digital camera is a relatively simple task, but sometimes, for whatever reason, we may flub the task. Ordinarily, such goofs are harmless. You just remove the battery and insert it correctly. Apparently that's not the case with the Fujifilm FinePix Z10fd. The company issued an advisory yesterday cautioning owners of that camera model to insert its battery correctly or it may become jammed in the camera. "Using excessive force to remove the battery may cause the battery to become damaged, overheat, ignite or explode. If the battery is loaded incorrectly, do not attempt to remove it with excessive force, and contact a Fujifilm repair service," Fuji warns.