PopSci's Best of What's New 2007

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A123 Systems NANO Phosphate Lithium Ion Batteries

Big power for big tools

Laptops and cellphones draw current smoothly over time. Not so with power tools—they sit dormant for long stretches and then suck down power in short bursts, much like hybrid cars. So DeWalt asked MIT start-up A123 Systems, the company building batteries for the Chevy Volt electric car, to create better lithium-ion batteries for its DC300K cordless circular saw. The result is a power pack that charges in an hour (rather than several hours) and can last up to a decade (instead of a couple years). The innovation is nanoscopic cathode particles inside the cell that offer more surface area to electrons, which increases the battery’s ability both to deliver current and to recharge quickly without overheating. $380; dewalt.com

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