Eneloop Rechargeable Batteries Review

Imagine a battery that has only the good qualities of a disposable, and also the 'pros' of a rechargeable battery.

Disposable batteries are ready for use right when you take them out of the package. Also, they're relatively cheap. They generally have a long shelf life, without losing a lot of their energy. Disposables are also very easy to use.

So why not just buy disposable batteries? How many do you go through? And they're exactly that - disposable. You throw them away, filling landfills with batteries. This adds up to a lot of money over the life of your equipment. For some people, buying disposables can be a bit confusing since there are so many options to choose from.

What about rechargeable batteries? You can use them over and over by simply using a recharger. They are cheaper over time than buying many disposables. However, rechargeable batteries lose their charge when they are sitting on the shelf in the store, and so you have to recharge them when you take them out of the package.

The solution from Sanyo? Eneloop rechargeable batteries.

Eneloop batteries have all the good qualities and convenience of both disposable and rechargeable batteries. They are ready to use right out of the package, and are quickly rechargeable. The key advantage to these batteries is that they lose very little energy sitting on the shelf. A normal rechargeable battery will only have 75% of its energy after 6 months and 0% after one year. An Eneloop battery, however, retains 90% of its energy after 6 months, and 85% after one year. In addition, Sanyo (the manufacturer) promotes Eneloop batteries as environmentally friendly and high-performance. This is useful for digital cameras and other items that use more energy.

So how much are these batteries selling for? Here are some prices for a 4-pack of AA Eneloop batteries as of the writing of this article:

Amazon.com $8.99

Circuit City $14.99

ANTonline.com $8.71

BatteriesandButter.com $10.00

You can also get the Battery Recharging Kit from Sanyo Eneloop for $19.49 (Amazon). This kit includes four AA batteries. The Eneloop batteries can be recharged up to 1,000 times without experiencing memory effect.

Eneloop batteries seem to have it all - but, as usual, time will tell if they live up to expectations. Have you already tried them? Did they work right out of the package? Do they have a long life? Do they recharge quickly? Leave a review here and let us know.