The market
In 2009, the world rejected around 40 billion small batteries. This fueled the demand for rare metals. Cobalt is essential for rechargeable batteries. Prius hybrid would never work without neodymium. Although volumes per unit are low, small variations in rare metal demand can raise or lower the prices of a ten factor. Industries are faced with uncertainties about the future supply and cover their position since the demand for batteries for hearing aids, heart stimulators, mobile phones, MP3 readers and watches could reach 100 billion units per year in the world within three to five years. We are considering a retail market of 100 billion euros per year.
The demand for these rare metals is stimulated by the introduction of "green technologies" such as wind turbines and eco-batteries. If we add the appetite of the Chinese for these rare products, experts believe that a strong contraction could occur during the next decade. Most of the supply of rhenium, cobalt, neodymium and samarium comes from a handful of mines located in remote regions of inner Mongolia, Siberia and the Republic of Congo, and is therefore subject to a rigorous climate and political uncertainty. In this context, it is not surprising that venture capital funds are betting strongly on the design of a large portfolio of innovative green batteries.
Innovation
Green batteries are not a solution to the challenges described, they are a transition. While green energy sources replace cadmium and mercury with lithium and nickel, these so-called environmental batteries that cause less damage to the environment and the environment pose less risks to Our health depend on a different variety of tiny quantities of rare earth elements that require mining, fusion and carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.
The recent innovations in terms of energy supply of the Fraunhofer Institute (Germany), one of the main world centers of applied research, offer a different path. Peter Spies and his colleagues have designed a cell phone that works without batteries. The temperature difference between the body and the phone provides enough energy to keep the phone on standby. The conversion of the sound waves created by the voice by electric current thanks to a piezoelectric device fueling the call-as long as we speak. The longer you speak, the longer your call. It is an existing science has become a success since the same team has designed telephone devices that require less energy.
Regardless of this research, Jorge Reynolds - one of the inventors of the cardiac stimulator - has demonstrated its ability to reduce resistance to the current by being inspired by the production and distribution of electrical energy using nanofils de carbon . Before, a whale was a dog. So, to maintain the same level of pulsation power, the heart of the whale was to improve conductivity and reached it, biologically. It is the combination of reduced resistance such that imagined by Reynolds and a reduction in energy needs as demonstrated by Fraunhofer which allows the redefinition of power for miniaturized electronics, ultimately eliminating the batteries.
The first cash flow
The introduction of a new cardiac stimulator without batteries requires years of research, many capital and perhaps even a decade of patience to obtain government authorizations. The elimination of a battery of mobile phones implies a redefinition of the management of the supply chain. It is not viable in the short term. This is why Reynolds has set up a team from Asia and Latin America to launch innovations on the market. The first application is a battery -free device to measure the wireless body temperature. The market potential is important. This innovative application does not compete with existing electronic devices.
It is well established that a woman's body temperature increases when she ovulates. A simple patch attached to underwear could measure the body temperature and compare it to a model recorded on a private website. If the temperature increases by more than half degree (Celsius) compared to the daily averages, there is a great certainty that ovulation takes place. Today, anticipation is mainly based on chemical controls by "the pill". This innovation without battery allows a simple and non -invasive control of social behavior without chemistry.
The opportunity
The use of batteries has become a standard and most products of products hold it for acquired. Watches represent a huge segment. However, watches without battery tend to be expensive and depend on a larger number of parts, which increases the assembly cost, while battery watches operate with some electronic components. Watches without battery represent only a long -term objective.
The possibility of entering the gadgets market without batteries focuses on the high-end applications of mobile micro-electric where the cost of electric current per kilowatt hour is high and the size of the battery creates discomfort. The first market that comes to mind after the patch is that of hearing aids. The cost of a kilowatt hour is more than 100 € and that of a device at € 2,000. This high cost makes it possible to design the replacement of one power supply by battery by another supplied by differences in body temperature. The hearing aid is placed outside the body, while the impulse generator is channeled inside the ear. This allows heat exchange powerful enough to supply the tiny device. This battery -free device is lighter, not very visible and cheaper. These are major improvements compared to the current standard, which is very expensive.
Reynolds then designed a mobile electrocardiogram (ECG) mobile device which monitors heartbeat for 24 hours by means of a simple patch, equipped with advanced electronics allowing the reading of heartbeat for 24 hours without batteries or wires. Imagine that anyone can monitor the heart condition of the best cyclists in the next round of France on the Internet online while they are crossing the Alps.
The replacement of batteries with no battery is real. As these basic technologies are open source, it provides a platform for entrepreneurs, without overloading our environment with mining, fusion and elimination of toxic waste at a lower cost and increased comfort. It is a new competitive business model under development that could even inspire mining companies and batteries to embark on a real urban mining initiative to complete this loop.
