Glasgow on Notebook Batteries: Lithium Polymer to Replace Lithium Ion

Laptop makers will “likely” soon choose to incorporate lithium polymer batteries over the current commonly used lithium ion batteries, Sony Electronics President Stan Glasgow said during a meeting with reporters Wednesday.

Notebook battery manufacturers have pushed the energy density (or capacity) of lithium ion batteries, with lithium packed into cells. When an internal short occurs, it can set off a chain reaction and start a fire. This was a cause of massive notebook-use lithium ion batteries recalls recently. On the other side, lithium in lithium polymer batteries is contained in a polymer gel.

Although polymer batteries have not been able to provide the long battery life and manufacturers and consumers demand in the past, CNet reports that lithium polymer has improved over time, adding that some manufacturers are using it in phones.