Remember back in the day when NiCD rechargeable batteries first came onto the scene? Known euphemistically as “nicads,” this first generation of rechargeable batteries was all the rage for a while. It seemed like the end for the golden age of disposable batteries: Duracell was on its way down, and the Energizer bunny had beat his last drum. After all, why would anyone ever waste their money on disposable batteries again?

However, if you walk into any supermarket, hardware store, or electronics superstore, you’ll find that the big disposable battery brands still dominate the market. Conversely, rechargeable batteries occupy only a minority share of shelf space.

So, why did the nicad battery design go the way of the dodo? For the same reason that you still buy Duracells and Enegizers over cheap-o batteries: disposables proved to be more reliable and long lasting than nicads. Nicad rechargeable batteries simply couldn’t live up to the expectations that the battery market put on them: they quickly became known for a myriad of design flaws, such as cell reversal, a condition where one battery in a device drains completely, neutralizing the viability of the others, and the “memory effect,” where long term charging reduces the battery’s energy life. These were two technology flaws that led NiCD batteries to discharge both suddenly and unevenly, leading to a lot of frustrated consumers.

There was also an environmental problem with the “nicad fad.” Nicads contain cadmium, which is a toxic heavy metal and therefore requires special care during battery disposal. The reason why nicads were so expensive was mainly due to the hefty disposal costs once they had to be thrown away. They simply were not environmentally friendly.

That’s why we all went back to disposable batteries.

The rechargeable battery, however, has made a huge comeback. NiMH rechargeable batteries have replaced the antiquated nicads, and prove to be a higher quality, higher capacity, more reliable and a more environmentally friendly design. While the upfront costs for NiMHs are still a bit higher than disposable batteries, the rechargeable NiMH batteries are much higher quality and reliable, offering a long, even power supply. Because you can charge them over and over without creating the dreaded “memory effect,” NiMH rechargeable batteries clearly pay for themselves after only a short time after you make the investment.

And if the environment is a concern for you, the NiMH rechargeable batteries definitely offer a more eco-friendly solution to their nicad counterpart. An obvious perk is the fact that NiMH batteries don’t contain the toxic cadmium found in NiCD. Instead, the industrial nickel used in NiMH is easily mined and recycled, due to the relatively easy retrieval of the metal from scrap, making it sustainable.

The birth of the NiMH rechargeable battery comes at a perfect time in history: now more than ever, our mobile electronics rely heavily on AA and AAA batteries to keep them going. If you own a digital camera, .mp3 player, Flip Video camera, or any other electronics gadget, it probably calls for some type of consumer battery. In addition, a large majority of kids’ toys also require batteries. Between your kids’ toys and your own gadgets, you’ll find that you’re constantly buying batteries.

Now, with NiMH rechargeable batteries, a few sets can cover all of the gadgets and toys in your household, Using an NiMH battery charger, you’ll be able to quickly and easily change out drained batteries with fresh ones whenever needed.