Swatch working on smartwatch battery that could last six months

Swatch working on smartwatch battery that could last six months
HIGHLIGHTS

Swatch plans to launch a 'Super Battery' in 2016, that could last for six months on a single charge.

Swatch has been working on a ‘Super Battery’ for smartwatches and cars that could last for six months on a single charge. According to reports, the company plans to launch the tech in 2016.

The company's CEO Nick Hayek told Swiss weekly Handelszeitung that the new battery would be applicable to not only smartwatches as well as for cars. "Whoever brings a battery for a smartwatch to the market that you don't need to charge for six months has a competitive advantage," Hayek said in an interview, extracts of which were published on Wednesday. "We're working intensively on this problem with our research group Belenos and battery producer Renata. Next year we will come to the market with a revolutionary battery, not only for watches but also for automobiles." A spokesman for Swatch confirmed Hayek's comments.

Swatch had announced last year that it plans to integrate its Swatch Touch Line with electronic functions to measure personal fitness by 2015 in an effort to tap into the wearable segment. The company has introduced fitness-tracking tools inside its Touch line of watches with its first smartwatch 'Touch Zero' for volley ball players that was launched earlier this year. In March, Swatch unveiled its reply to Apple Inc's smartwatch, which would include cheap programmable chips in watches that would allow users to make payments with a swipe of the wrist. Apple Watch which was launched last month has been receiving criticism for its relatively poor battery life, which lasts up to 18 hours according to Apple.

Earlier this week, an American company called Nucleus Scientific unveiled new tech that could charge a smartphone in just a few minutes as well as extend its battery life. The company has developed a suite of battery tech called an Intelligent Energy System, that can change the way energy is stored and transferred. The battery tech is already being applied to batteries in the next generation of devices. The company's founder Ian Hunter says that the tech could be used in a wide range of devices from smartphone batteries to large electric vehicles. Apart from this tech giants, Apple, Google and Yahoo have also been investing in new tech to improve battery life.

Source: Reuters, Handelszeitung

Silky Malhotra

Silky Malhotra

Silky Malhotra loves learning about new technology, gadgets, and more. When she isn’t writing, she is usually found reading, watching Netflix, gardening, travelling, or trying out new cuisines. View Full Profile

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