Larry Udell is the man behind an invention that could extend battery life by up to 30%. In other words, it could revolutionize absolutely everything: from ordinary batteries to electronic devices to electric cars.
The 91-year-old retired engineer wants to continue adding projects to his long career. His new invention is called BatterySavers and it is a coin-sized chip that can be placed above or in the middle of the battery by connecting it to the terminals. Therefore, it is extremely easy to install.
According to Udell, who gave full details of its creation to Popular mechanics, this plate is very small, inexpensive and simple to manufacture. It only takes 12 cents to make one of these chips, and a two-pack should sell for 99 cents.
Larry Udell doesn’t want to retire
How it works?
As the BatterySavers website explains, the battery drains slowly until the device is turned off. Apparently there is no more power in this battery until it is charged, but there is not. There is still something left.
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What actually happens is that when the battery runs out, the voltage it provides to the device decreases more and more. Some electrical components of the device require a minimum voltage to operate. So when the battery voltage drops too low, the electronics stop working and the device shuts down.
When the battery runs out, there really is power reserve left
BatterySavers raises the voltage of this discharged battery to a level where a signal is emitted, allowing the remaining power to be used more quickly. This is possible because the device operates at lower voltages than standard regulators can accept, and therefore the life expectancy of most battery types with different capacities and chemical compositions is extended.
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This unique model has a float charging circuit that only activates when needed and avoids extraordinary energy consumption. This device is particularly useful because, until now, no other method of increasing the power output has made it possible to use the power remaining in the discharged batteries without damaging the autonomy or the power output.
Too long to be profitable
Udell’s chips have been constantly monitored and refined for four years. Meanwhile, he has managed to save $100,000 and is seeking a license for his product, which the engineer says is ready for mass production.
The BatterySavers chip
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But this American, who has worked for HP, Samsung, the UN or young companies in Silicon Valley, is aware that BatterySavers has its penance in the duration it provides. In this sense, Udell considers that large battery producers are dedicated to manufacturing products in large quantities and are interested in selling as many products as possible. Therefore, longer battery life like that granted by his invention would imply lower sales, which doesn’t matter.