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A new form of rechargeable batteries, USB rechargeables can recharge from any USB connection (computers, solar cells, adaptors) without the need for a seperate charger. Convenient, flexible and good for the environment and your wallet, these batteries are usually available in AA size - and can even do things that normal batteries can't!

USBCells are batteries that can be recharged from any USB port - without the need for a seperate charger.  Usually available in AA sizes, the best known brand are Moxia USBCells, although there are others types on the market.

Advantages

Convenient - No charger required
Flexible - use anywhere you would use a standard AA battery
Money-saving - you buy a lot fewer batteries
Green - Fewer bateries in landfills, and you can recharge them off a solar panel if you have one.

Disadvantages

May not work in gadgets requiring high-performance batteries (one of my cameras will not take them)

Charging USB Cells

As with all rechargeables, they need to be charged before use. To charge them, simply plug them into any USB port and let them charge. It took about 5 hours for a full charge the first time, although the time may vary depending on what they are plugged into; for example, a solar charger I tried them on charged them more slowly than my PC.

They can be charged from almost any USB port or adaptor, including car adaptors, computers, solar chargers, some phone chargers etc. This makes them extremely convenient.

In addition, they can be recharged from a conventional battery charger, although according to their specifications this takes longer.

In Use

They can be used anywhere that conventional AA batteries can be. I have used mine in clocks, cameras, discmans, MP3 players and more. They are also popular for use with gadgets such as wireless mice and keyboards, or game controllers. The only issue is that in gadgets requiring high-perfomance batteries, they may not deliver enough charge. This problem was encountered with one digital camera.

They can also be used in another way conventional batteries cannot, although this is not what they were intended for and may harm their battery life. In two cases - a phone and a Nintendo DS - the USB connection was used with a USB adaptor to provide a few moments extra charge when the battery in the device was dead. It doesn't deliver a lot of power, but lasted long enough for a quick call.

Lifespan

The specs suggest the batteries may be good for up to 300 recharges. While I cannot confirm this I have been using my original pair for nearly a year, they are probably getting to around 100 charges and show no signs of performance degrading or failing to hold a charge.

Sizes Available

While AA batteries are the only ones currently available, USBCell has plans to release more this year. These include:

An AAA size with Mini USB
A 9V size
Mobile phone battery types.

In Conclusion

USBCells provide a real advantage over stanadrd batteries and rechargeables in most situations, and are something that would be of interest to any gadget or technology fans. To a wider audience, they offer significant savings on batteries and charging costs, and benefit the environment at the same time.

Closing on a personal note, I was pleased enough with mine to buy more, which are now in use in most of my gadgets. This has considerably reduced what I spend on batteries, and the use of a solar charger means they charge for free.

Availability

These batteries are available from a number of places - including online from Amazon:

Amazon.co.uk: USB rechargeable batteries

Amazon.com USB Rechargeable Batteries