This article, and this comment thread, both seem to be ignoring what is actually in the way of any "50% more energy" battery tech being used in consumer laptops: FAA regulations limit all such batteries to 100 watt/hrs or less. It's not Apple, it's not Samsung...they have no choice.
So until we get over our stupid post-9/11 policies, it doesn't matter if Star Trek batteries magically spring into existence. The tech isn't going anywhere, other than allowing something like Apple Watch to have a little more capacity.
Sorry but I have to disagree. While the limit is important for appliance electronics like laptops it doesn't have any impact at all on electric vehicles which are all mostly LiOn powered. 50% more range or 50% less weight would be an interesting change to put in the mix at Tesla for example.
If you look at where batteries are going to be in volume in the next 20 years it will be in grid storage, off-grid house energy storage, vehicles, and potentially small industrial tools.
Of course if this particular breakthrough actually makes it into batteries we will all be pleasantly surprised, as battery "breakthroughs" have a success rate quite a bit lower than 'venture funded startups' :-)
The 2017 15” MacBook Pro only has a 76 Wh battery, so this is mainly a design choice by Apple (smaller battery means smaller laptop) and not due to FAA regulations.
And that's a laptop. Watch and phone batteries store far less energy than that. Even the most power-hungry phone would certainly be able to take full advantage of a battery with an additional 50% capacity.
I already get 6 - 8 hours of lifetime out of my laptop, I don't really need 50% more battery (saving a few ounces or cubic centimeters wouldn't make much difference to me either). I can use the power outlet on the plane if I'm on a flight longer than that.
However, I would love 50% more battery lifetime in my phone without adding more weight or volume.
Or 50% more range in an electric car (or reducing the size/weight/cost of the battery pack).
There are lots of applications for batteries that don't involve taking large batteries on the plane.
That's fine. Laptops can keep getting more efficient. This tech can be used for cars and home storage and.. basically everything except devices like laptops that are on that 100w/h boundary. Already, laptops suffice for most flights. Then, eventually, this regulation will go away.
I have never seen a laptop catch fire, on a plane or otherwise. While I have seen a few stories that report fires here and there, I really don't think this is a big issue, and I'd feel comfortable riding on a plane with lots of 1kWh batteries on it.
So until we get over our stupid post-9/11 policies, it doesn't matter if Star Trek batteries magically spring into existence. The tech isn't going anywhere, other than allowing something like Apple Watch to have a little more capacity.