Reusable alkaline battery system from Rayovac (Renewal)

The Rayovac Corporation successfully introduced the Rechargeable Alkaline Manganese-Zinc (RAM) System for consumer applications in the fall of 1993 in four conventional cell sizes (AA, AAA, C, D). The RAM battery is being consumer marketed as a reusable alkaline battery system under the trademark Renewal. It is being targeted toward all types of applications where primary alkaline are presently used. In addition to consumer replaceability of the Renewal battery, several questions were raised by designers of portable battery-operated equipment regarding battery-charger characteristics for future design-in of this new chemistry. This paper will address these questions and will point the major advantages and disadvantages of the Renewal batteries as compared to nickel-based batteries (e.g., Nickel/Cadmium, Nickel/Metal Hydride)