Electronics maker Panasonic Corp. has developed a rechargeable battery that can store 10 percent more power than a model it introduced last week, two people familiar with the product said.
Panasonic increased the lithium-ion battery's power to at least 3.4 amperes per hour, the sources said, asking not to be identified before the firm announces the product Friday.
The consumer electronics maker said Dec. 18 it has started mass production of a 3.1 amperes per hour rechargeable lithium-ion battery suitable for laptop computers. Panasonic estimates the global market for such batteries will increase fivefold from this year to ¥3.2 trillion in 2018, driven the growing popularity of low-emission vehicles and mobile electronics.
The company, which this month completed a takeover of Sanyo Electric Co., the world's biggest maker of rechargeable batteries, plans to invest ¥123 billion to triple production of lithium-ion batteries by October 2011 to maintain its lead over South Korea's Samsung SDI Co. and other rivals.