OSAKA (Kyodo) Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. said Wednesday it will release a dry battery more powerful and durable than conventional alkaline dry batteries on April 1.
The new product, called Oxyride, is the first new dry battery to be introduced by a domestic manufacturer in about 40 years, Matsushita said.
Oxyride batteries are 1.5 times more durable than alkaline batteries and have a slightly higher voltage, which was realized by combining manganese dioxide with nickel oxyhydroxide.
A pair of AA batteries in the Oxyride series will carry a price tag of 360 yen, about 10 percent higher than comparable alkaline batteries.