The SBS-IF included Duracell, Intel, Energizer, Benchmarq, Linear Technology, Maxim, Varta, Toshiba, National Semiconductor and Mitsubishi Electric. As employees of Energizer, the management team of Inspired Energy were part of this core group establishing the specifications for smart battery systems.

The original products were the 10 cell NiMH batteries; DR36 & the DR36S. The "S" suffix designated that the DR36S battery pack contained smart SMBus electronics as part of the smart battery system. The Inspired Energy NJ1020 is a direct replacement for the DR36 & DR36S and their derivatives which include the BN36S, EMC36S, GPDR36S, NM36S, SL36 & SMP36S.

Shortly afterwards the long, thin, 9-cell NiMH DR35 and DR35S batteries were launched by Duracell, with Energizer's NI1030 as the alternative. Inspired Energy's NI1030 is a direct replacement for the DR35 & DR35S and their derivatives which include the GPDR35, GPDR35S, NM35S, SL35 & SMP35.

The smart battery system concept was forward-thinking in that it accommodated battery chemistry independence & hence when Li Ion batteries became more commonplace the Li Ion version of the  DR36S - the DR202 was introduced. As a drop-in replacement for the older DR36S, the DR202 exploited all the attributes of the chemistry-independent smart battery system. Inspired Energy's NI2020 is a direct replacement for all DR202 battery packs & their derivatives which now include the DR202S, GPDR202, Li202S, LiP9020B, ME202, SL202, SMP202, SMP2020, STD202 and TH202

However without the anticipated high volume sales of standard battery packs, Duracell pulled out of the market, rendering the DR36, DR35 and DR202 batteries obsolete and leaving Energizer as the sole global consumer battery manufacturer with smart battery capabilities. Although the standard battery concept failed to achieve global consumer success, the standard battery concept was by no means dead - smaller device manufacturers in niche markets realized that the NI2020, NJ1020 and NI1030  represented a ready-made high energy power source with full on-board battery intelligence and communications capabilities. This type of feature set had previously only been available to major computer giants, but could now be deployed into vertical markets such as those seen on our capabilities list.

In time, Energizer too divested their rechargeable battery interests to Moltech, who grew the standard battery product portfolio by the introduction of the NI2040, which was developed by Moltech in partnership with two of the world's leading medical and computer device manufacturers. Since the purchase of Moltech's  Smart Battery Business Unit by Inspired Energy, the IE team  is taking the standard battery concept another step forward with the introduction of the 202x, 204x, 205x range of battery packs and a full range of smart chargers and belt packs, all featuring standard, SMBus communications. 

You can be assured that the team that worked with the SBS-IF in the early days of smart, standard batteries can be relied on to continue the growth & expansion of this battery concept with a growing portfolio of products throughout the coming months and years.

To contact Inspired Energy about our range of standard batteries please contact us at: 

US Toll Free: 1-888-5-INSPIRE (1-888-546-7747) 

or USA 352 472 4855 

or e-mail our Sales Department.