W. Gardner

TechWeb News

(10/11/2005 11:37 AM EDT)

The proliferation in mobile communications devices will help drive the mobile battery market to $9.1 billion in revenues by 2010 and at the same time it will create opportunities for alternative battery technologies, according to a research report released Tuesday.

NanoMarkets LC said lithium-ion battery technology from firms including Energizer, Gillette (Duracell), Matsushita Sony, Toshiba, and Ultralife will continue to dominate the mobile power source market.

The market research firm also cited three new opportunity areas for mobile batteries.

Lithium-polymer batteries will be increasingly driven by the spread of smartcards, RFIDs, and disposable electronics, NanoMarkets said. It expects this segment to generate $1 billion in sales by 2010. The firm said Toshiba is a leader in the segment.

Secondly, NanoMarkets foresees a synergetic relationship between batteries and fuel cells that will lead to fuel cell battery chargers as well as devices to buffer against power spikes.

Finally, the market research firm is looking for new developments in nanostructures and thin films to boost the performance of mobile batteries. NanoMarkets cited the example of high-aspect-ratio nanomaterials with small diameters that enable batteries to recharge quickly.