A Better Use for Old Batteries

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A startup named Enlighten proposes an interesting means for environmentally-conscious customers to recycle old smartphone batteries-- the Better Re, an accessory turning such batteries into power packs.

Better ReAccording to the company, the average smartphone gets replaced after 18 months of purchase, meaning many perfectly usable batteries (with remaining efficiency of around 80%) end up either in the trash or in the bottom of a drawer. The Better Re reuses such batteries to provide extra juice for currently used mobile devices, hitting two birds with one stone.

Enlighten says the Better Re works with most smartphone battery models and sizes, and the device appears easy enough to use. It is also expandable (by simply stacking Better Re units on top of each other) and even features a built-in battery tester.

Construction is in "100% recyclable" aluminium and walnut/maple hardwood. The company also caters for the users of phones with built-in batteries (such as the Nexus 4 or Galaxy S6) by offering its own recycled batteries.

The Better Re is currently available as a preorder on Kickstarter, where it successfully reached a $50000 crowdfunding goal. Once the campaign is over shipments should kick off from November 2015.

Go Better Re Kickstarter