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Technology

What is an Oxyride Battery?

By R. Kayne
Updated Jan 30, 2024
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An oxyride battery is an especially powerful, long lasting battery developed by Matsushita Electric Industrial of Tokyo for Panasonic. The oxyride battery is 1.5 times as powerful as a regular alkaline battery, allowing extended use of high-drain battery-powered devices such as digital cameras, with the ability to take up to twice as many digital pictures. Flashes also recover quicker and pictures can be taken faster. The extra power of the oxyride battery might also deliver enhanced bass in audio players, according to some.

Oxyride batteries use updated alkaline chemistry that includes a finer grained graphite and manganese dioxide, allowing a denser fill of material. With an advanced substance for the cathode or negative (-) side, called oxy nickel hydroxide the batteries maintain higher voltage. Oxyride batteries also utilize a breakthrough vacuum-pouring technology in the production process, allowing more electrolyte to be packed into each battery for increased durability. Hence, increased power and a longer life!

The oxyride battery was first introduced to the Japanese market in 2004 and has boasted an impressive demonstration, powering the 9.5 foot (2.9 meter) 'Oxyride' car. The car, built especially for the demonstration and resembling a torpedo with three bicycle wheels, carried a 110 pound (50 kilogram) female passenger laying luge-style under the drop-top canopy. Powered by two AA oxyride batteries, it traveled 213 feet (65 meters) in 74 seconds, and went a total of three quarters of a mile (1.23 kilometers) before the batteries ran dry.

In more practical terms, toy trucks will run faster, PDA's will compute longer, powered toothbrushes will brush longer, and MP3 players will crank out more tunes. In fact, with the advent of more and more digital products that require a battery power source, the oxyride battery promises a brighter and longer-lasting future.

The Panasonic brand of oxyride battery is called 'Digital Xtreme Power' and the AA and AAA oxyrides will cost about 10% more than their normal counterpart alkaline batteries.

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Discussion Comments

By anon237720 — On Dec 30, 2011

@post 7 by cma. I also have an LS 75 Panasonic Camera. In response to the answer that it can use standard alkaline batteries, yes, that is correct. But it literally 'eats' them unless they are very high quality. They can be so poor that one particular brand I used would barely take one or two photos before the battery indicator showed: 'replace batteries'. That model camera is better off with good quality high mah NIMH rechargeables. If not, Energizer Lithium or Max 3.

By anon79744 — On Apr 24, 2010

The oxyride battery is 1.7 volts. Alkaline is 1.5 volts. It can burn out a standard light bulb faster.

I don't know about electronics but I would think that they have a voltage regulator in it which steps down the voltage to a steady constant number -- up to a certain point. So the oxyride has "more to drop" before the voltage regulator doesn't work (it can't step up the voltage).

But if you want to use it in a flashlight, what you can do is get one of those 2-4cell range LED replacements or something like that. They are pretty awesome even with alkalines because they are usually whiter and brighter too and theoretically should never burn out. And it doesn't have a filament so it can probably withstand drops better.

By anon70921 — On Mar 16, 2010

Oxy Rides should not be used in flash lights, or anything else with bulbs according to one distributor. Could not find out why.

Panny's web site is outdated as the retail stores are either gone or do not carry them. Neither does penny's. Listed as "out of stock" So, right, if they're sop great, where are they?

By anon29161 — On Mar 28, 2009

Can oxyride batteries also be used for polaroid cameras?

By anon23439 — On Dec 24, 2008

For the consumer, oxyride batteries are just improved alkaline batteries. They'll last longer and might have a higher initial voltage than regular alkalines. Panasonic puts them in with cameras to encourage consumers to buy them (if you can find a retailer.

By aandrews — On Jun 07, 2008

Are Oxyride batteries less prone to exploding/bursting than regular alkaline batteries? I've recently had regular double-A's burst inside the battery well of an LCD display and ruin the unit.

By cma — On Mar 10, 2008

I just purchased a Panasonic digital camera, model LS-75. It comes with and recommends 2 x AA Oxyride batteries or optionally 2xAA NiMH rechargeable. I travel and do not want to carry a converter and charger. Can I use AA Alkaline or Lithium instead?

I'll return the camera if I can't and I'm running out of time to return it so any help you can provide would be great.

Thanks

By anon8867 — On Feb 22, 2008

Oxyrides are not rechargeable.

Panasonic cameras can use normal alkaline or rechargeable NiMH batteries. NiMH's are recommended because you can recharge them many times which means low cost per charge and less pollution.

By anon8010 — On Feb 06, 2008

hi, is oxyride chargeable?

By tcampbell — On Oct 25, 2007

If Oxyride batteries are so great, then why are they only available in some obscure stores in the mid-Eastern United States. I live in Texas and no one carries them, or has even heard of them.

By mweber — On Sep 07, 2007

What is the internal resistance of an Oxyride AA?

By libra66 — On Jul 02, 2007

Do the oxyride batteries have to be used exclusively for the Panasonic cameras? Where can they be found?

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