Dyson invests $15m to double smartphone battery life

Sick of your smartphone battery running low? British engineering company Dyson hopes it can help, announcing it has invested $15m into technology that may double battery life, reports The Guardian.

Sakti3, a spin-off company from the University of Michigan, has reportedly developed technology that can store double the energy of standard rechargeable batteries. In addition to boosting smartphones, the technology would allow electric cars to travel further on a single charge.

"Sakti3 has achieved leaps in performance, which current battery technology simply can't," James Dyson, founder of the company, said. "It's these fundamental technologies batteries, motors that allow machines to work properly."

Dyson has agreed to develop and commercialise the solid-state batteries from Sakti3, which promise to be a major step up from the standard liquid lithium batteries used now in everything from smartphones and tablets to cars and solar panels.

This has been a problem with rapidly advancing technology outstripping advancements in battery life, with manufacturers often having to choose between device size or weight and battery life.

The company claimed the new batteries are able to retain 1,000 watt hours per litre, as well as being cheaper to make, longer lasting and more environmentally friendly.

Before we get to see the technology's potential in the smartphone market, however, Dyson will reportedly introduce the Sakti3 system via its own products, such as robotic vacuum cleaners.

Caroline Preece

Caroline has been writing about technology for more than a decade, switching between consumer smart home news and reviews and in-depth B2B industry coverage. In addition to her work for IT Pro and Cloud Pro, she has contributed to a number of titles including Expert Reviews, TechRadar, The Week and many more. She is currently the smart home editor across Future Publishing's homes titles.

You can get in touch with Caroline via email at caroline.preece@futurenet.com.