iLikeBatteries

254: iLikeSolar! Jeff's Panels are Up and Running!

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 11:00:22 +0000

Jeff and Mike discuss, finally, Jeff's solar installation being complete and up and running! They go through all the technical details! Also, Saudi Arabia trading oil for batteries!

253: Even F1 Has a Hard Time Getting It Right

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:00:28 +0000

Mike and Jeff have an F1 correction and discuss: Aston Martin's continued battery woes; more chat about VRFBs (Vanadium Redox Flow Battery) and where they're being used as grid attached storage; spring power tools and battery implications.

252: NOT Shaken NOR Stirred

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:27:44 +0000

Jeff and Mike discuss some issues with Aston Martin's new Formula 1 car; Mike's successful heart surgery prompts a discussion about batteries in the healthcare industry; the guys learn about Vanadium Redox Flow Battery and will dig into those into the future; Ultralife Corporation launches X5 SuperLite for the medical industry; at home EKG.

251: R2 or 3PO?

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:00:38 +0000

Jeff still waiting on his solar install; California bridges the solar gap with batteries; New England's largest battery storage facility opens in Gorham, Maine; a new digital marketplace for batteries; Nissan's patent for an active EV battery pack; Exploring Rivian's R2; What's old is new, again.

250: That's A LOT of Episodes...

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 12:00:24 +0000

Jeff and Mike celebrate their 250th episode by spending some time looking back at the origins of iLikeBatteries, having some good laughs, and looking forward to many more episodes!

249: Three Qi's For 2026!

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:00:25 +0000

Mike and Jeff wish you a Happy New Year! They chat about the good news for global clean energy; a Chinese emissions report; Jeff is still waiting for his solar install date; Mike's new iPhone raised a question about Qi charging so the guys had to dive into Qi history; Apple Lightning cable charging comparison; The Verge TS Pro electric motorcycle with solid state batteries; NACS defined; NYC prepping for XCharge Charging Hub with batteries charging batteries.

248: Increasing Levers of Performance with Jill Pestana

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 12:00:21 +0000

Part Two of our interview with Jill Pestana; Supply chain considerations; sodium ion batteries; simple definition of solid state batteries; Data Centers need batteries; Battery Safety is an important consideration; Batteries are really better; a clean energy future; BatteryCourses.com.

247: Getting Super-Hyper-Local with Jill Pestana

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 12:00:22 +0000

Mike and Jeff host battery scientist and entrepreneur Jill Pestana for the first of a two-part interview. They touch on Jill's battery past, present, and future; battery chemistries; supply chain challenges; data centers; recycling; safety concerns; what about space?

246: Capital G, Captial P, little A

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 12:00:21 +0000

Jeff and Mike discuss Jeff's solar journey update; future of battery electric ships; a discussion of structural batteries; BrightNight provides grid support; Holiday Power solutions; Green Wave EV picks.

245: Has the venerable 18650 met its match?

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 12:00:22 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss Amazon's Self-Driving robotaxi...the ZOOX; ZOOX uses Panasonic's 21700 cells, but so does the Lucid Gravity; Review of naming of cylindrical cells; Green Wave EV Picks! 2023 Genesis Electrified G80; 2023 Kia EV6 GT-Line; 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-e GT.

244: You Spin Me Right Round...

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 12:00:19 +0000

Jeff and Mike discuss Jeff progress on the solar installation; Sunrun VPP sees huge jump in enrollment; EcoFlow's new Delta 3 1000 Air power station; Mike's battery powered washing machine; the guys share their Green Wave picks!

243: It's a different kind of hybrid

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 12:00:24 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss a battery powered oyster boat; solar panel parking lots in South Korea; new features and products from EcoFlow; Mike and Jeff's Green Wave Picks; Jeff's solar update.

242: Hindsight is 2025

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 14:59:05 +0000

Jeff and Mike discuss a new job site generator from Prolectric and describe 3 phase electrical power; sounding like Toyota is going for solid state batteries in EVs; a quick discussion about EV range; Jeff and Mike pick their favorite, currently available EV at Green Wave EV in Hampton, NH.

241: That's, like, 1 kilowatt per ton

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 11:00:27 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss some MIT research into concrete batteries; Big Beard Batteries' RV Solar Clinics; NIO sets a battery swapping record; EV range anxiety isn't what is used to be.

240: Batteries from the Salt of the Earth

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 11:00:22 +0000

More to Jeff's boat saga; Watertown, MA High School going net-zero; Bluetti's sodium-ion power station debuts; Briggs and Stratton home backup solutions; Texas breaking power generation records...in a good way.

239: Get Moving with the Ford eTransit!

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 11:00:25 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss Jeff's Dyson-esque battery opportunity; Belgrade Boats and Batteries; Hampton, NH making us proud; Jeff's eTransit experience; Pepsi Co goes for EV Big Rigs; P85D at Green Wave EV?

238: Out Back By the Batteries with Todd Perry

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 11:02:03 +0000

Jeff and Mike discuss Jeff's Solar Update; and Todd Perry's Great White North off-grid cabin battery upgrade!

237: Every Little Bit Helps

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 11:00:23 +0000

Mike and Jeff explore Mike's portable power station strategy; Jeff is going solar and takes us through the details; warning about buying a home with solar panels; modeling AI energy usage for AI; Let's talk about hydro-electric.

236: Apparently Ice Cream is OK

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 11:00:24 +0000

Jeff and Mike have a chat about Jeff's Tesla Model Y full self driving experience; Porsche's in the Park event benefitting the Dempsey Center; discussion of real cost of EV battery replacement; so, what is a semi-solid state battery anyway?; off the grid AI data center gives EV batteries a second life.

235: Wow, OK, So that's a Big Ferry!

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 11:00:22 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss a battery + solar powered floating urban greenhouse; a plug for Freight Farms; CATL's swappable EV battery tech and barriers to aoption in the US; a hybrid car ferry?; New England meets power demands with battery backup solutions.

234: A Plug for Taking a Journey on a Battery Powered Train?

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 11:00:21 +0000

Jeff and Mike discuss Texas' improvements in the area of electricity demands through increased solar and battery backup; Are Battery Electric Trains a reality?; Solid state batteries drive towards 1,800 miles of range; Porsche + AI = Better Batteries.

233: Modeling Digital Battery Twins with the About:Energy Team

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 11:00:25 +0000

Mike hosts Kieran O'Regan and Lorenzo Bergamaschi from About:Energy to discuss their innovative battery development and simulation technology. From Porsche to McMurtry to Formula 1, About:Energy accelerates the development of better, more sustainable batteries.

232: Unpacking How You Pack for Your Next Flight

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 11:00:24 +0000

Jeff and Mike continue unpacking the new regulations for batteries in your checked luggage; the 100 watt-hour tipping point; sometimes the airlines and the TSA don't seem to agree; have you heard about HeaterMeals?

231: Planes, Trains & Go-Karts (and Ships)

Tue, 20 May 2025 11:00:21 +0000

Mike and Jeff muse about: K1 indoor go-karts; Switzerland trials solar panels between train tracks; Worldwide solar generation rankings; battery-powered ships; confusion surrounding some new TSA regulations regarding batteries and luggage on airplanes.

230: The Stretch Armstrong of Batteries?

Tue, 06 May 2025 11:00:22 +0000

Jeff and Mike chat about a Swedish university protoype of a fluid, flexible battery; Ecoflow's balcony solar panel; Porsche Cayman/Boxster EV delays; how EVs get their capacity from smaller cells; home EV chargers as incentives.

229: We Asked AI About Our Podcast, and Then We Talked About Batteries Some More

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 11:00:20 +0000

Mike and Jeff talk about a CES 2025 solar roof tile announcement from Jackery; a reminder to check your 12V car battery; differences between marine batteries and automotive batteries; the guys come across a horrible Amazon ad for alkaline batteries and why Pale Blue Earth batteries will serve you better.

228: Can you dig it (with batteries)?

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 11:00:25 +0000

Jeff and Mike discuss the possible benefits a sodium-ion battery pack by Elecom; breaking ground with the Elgo-Plus Springer Max-EB micro excavator; is it worth $22k?

227: More Battery & EV Fun with ASE Certified Master Technician Matt Lamontagne

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 11:00:26 +0000

Mike and Jeff share the second half of our interview with Matt Lamontagne of Leo & Son's Automotive in Lawrence, MA. This time we explore an issue with a Lexus RX400h; why people seek out Matt's expertise; Cybertruck wiper blade ideas; Kia EV-9 cool features; Matt discusses his teaching about hybrids and EVs; charge port location and charging issues; VTL tricks.

226: It's (Potentially) Bad for Your Wallet...with Matt Lamontagne

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 11:00:21 +0000

Jeff and Mike are joined once again by Matt Lamontagne of Leo & Son's Automotive in Lawrence, MA. Matt tells us about his new EV9, and the fate of the Mach-E; more about Leo & Sons services; discussion of dual & tri motor EVs; Tesla's charging "trick"; a mechanic's opinion of hub motors in EVs; EVs eat tires; EV maintenance items you might not think of.

225: How Fast is Fast? Jingyi Chen of Breathe Battery Technologies

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 12:00:21 +0000

How Fast is Fast?; Today Mike and Jeff host Jingyi Chen, Head of Battery at Breathe Battery Technologies. Learn how Breathe Charge and Breathe Life enable better battery charging and discharging performance.

224: The Episode that went Sideways

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 12:00:29 +0000

Jeff and Mike discuss DeepDrive's EV motor yielding 20% more efficienc; a lesson about EV drivetrains; battery market cap; Mike's EcoFlow River battery woes...revisited; a walk down memory lane.

223: There's Always Something Going On in Las Vegas

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 12:00:23 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss some more details about Mike's battery shed; swappable toaster batteries?; Prologium's lithium ceramic battery; EcoFlow's Power Hat; Bluetti gets into home power; the Flint Paper Battery; Another snow blower for Jeff

222: A River Runs Dry?

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 12:00:28 +0000

Jeff and Mike ring in 2025 by discussing a Stanford study about "lunatic EV driving"; a lovely note from a listener; Mike's EcoFlow River woes!

221: Charging into 2025!

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 12:00:24 +0000

Mike and Jeff close out their fifth year of iLikeBatteries! Jeff's SnowJoe battery update; Jeff's new EGO show thrower; Mike finds a deal; Charging options Jeff missed during his Ionic 5 rental; CCA vs NACS charging standards; what about renting an EV from Turo?; are you wanting to start a podcast?; Stats and a Thank You.

220: The Misadventures of Jeff's Ionic 5 Rental

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 12:00:29 +0000

Jeff takes Mike on a ride describing his adventures renting a Hyundai Ionic 5 in Charlotte, NC. If you're thinking of renting an EV, you'll want to pay extra attention to this episode!

219: We're Being a Little Salty

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 14:22:16 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss CATL introduction of the first hybrid battery that combines two chemisties; EREVs and PHEVs explained; Battery Innovations of 2024; Deck the Halls with battery powered lights.

218: When the WORX Doesn't Work!

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 12:00:27 +0000

Jeff and Mike discuss the possibility of running a WORX leaf mulcher off of an EcoFlow River; Jeff's SnowJoeWoe; People batteries?; Sand Batteries?; Hidden Dangers of Flooded EVs; AI helping with battery recycling?

217: Blown Away by Battery-Powered Lawn Equipment

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 01:58:56 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss one of Jeff's pet peeves; worldwide battery capacity numbers; air taxi updates; new lawn equipment emissions requirements; does a Worx leaf mulcher run off of an EcoFlow?

216: Hello Hampton Academy (with a Chery on top)

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 10:56:20 +0000

Jeff and Mike discuss Jeff's EcoFlow disappointment; they have a follow-up on EV battery arrangment and a correction from last show; Chery Fulwin T9; John Deere electric mowers; old news out of California. Shout out to Hampton Acadmey.

215: In a State of Flux

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 11:00:17 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss Jeff's Flux Capacitor experience; Follow-up on solar energy gathering in space; Are space-based solar farms viable?; Tesla produces it's one hundred millionth 46800 cell; Battery powered music festivals?

214: Refuge at Daybreak

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 11:00:17 +0000

Jeff and Mike are reminded that they should check to see if things are plugged in; Polaris Dawn launch and new space suits; Jeff's Lion Sanctuary consultation; Mike's Wave2 update; some floating solar in the Alps in Switzerland; 52 billion solar panels?

213: How To Have a Magical Battery Day

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 11:00:08 +0000

Mike and Jeff chat about Mike's purchase of an EcoFlow solar alignment gadget; Residential Clean Energy tax credit; have you heard of zinc-air batteries?; Titan Advanced Energy Solutions explains more about their ultrasound technology.

212: Mike Rides the WAVE (2)

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 11:00:22 +0000

Jeff and Mike chat about AkzoNobel’s Resicoat battery protective spray; EV Batteries Cost 90% Less Compared To 15 Years Ago; Kronos and Yasheng Partnership: Revolutionizing Power with Nickel-63 Nuclear Battery; Mike acquires an EcoFlow WAVE 2; the guys learn about R290 and discuss the definition of a BTU.

211: Are Solid State Batteries coming to Portable Power Stations?

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 11:00:10 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss how California's 10,000+ MegaWatts of battery storage helped with recent heatwave; Potassium-ion 18650's?; Australia showing how to make neighborhood batteries fun; Yoshino's Solid State portable battery stations...are they worth it?

210: You might get fined, but you won't get charged

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 01:48:21 +0000

Jeff and Mike chat about a new British-based startup with a very fast charging battery. Vermont enacts a law about recycling single-use batteries. What is the best angle for your solar panels? Can batteries disrupt cold shipping?

209: Uphill, Both Ways, In the Snow?!!

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 11:00:11 +0000

Mike and Jeff host Mike's brother in law, Todd Perry, who has an off the grid camp in Canada and is looking for some advice about where to go next with his 20 year old off-grid solar + battery system.

208: Going Back to the Future with Seagulls, Coffee and Pie

Tue, 28 May 2024 11:00:09 +0000

Jeff and Mike discuss the BYD Seagull and HAN EVs; Blade Batteries; Coffee ground electrodes?; California's got Big Batteries (and reducing number of solar installations); Community batteries?; Jeff's heat pump installation is complete, but what about backup power?

207: 207, 603, 802 and a foreign Yoyo

Tue, 14 May 2024 11:00:10 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss the ups and downs of the XEV Yoyo he spotted in Italy; Exploring L7e and L6e vehicle categories; Vermont passes a 100% renewable electricity mandate; Other VT incentives; Jeff's solar update and other options;

206: We're Not Getting Any Jungner

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 11:00:15 +0000

Jeff and Mike follow-up on the Volta Foundation's 2023 Battery Report; they introduce you to Ernst Waldemar Jungner; Duracell's 60th Anniversary; Duracell and F1 connection; batteries now included.

205: What on Earth do Ducks have to do with a Solar Eclipse?

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 11:00:09 +0000

Mike and Jeff talk discuss something they didn't initially think about during the solar eclipse; Let's talk about portable power stations and what you might learn about your energy usage; Mike sees a Cybertruck; Mike acquires an EV!

204: Self-healing Batteries Could Be Marvel-ous!

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 11:00:11 +0000

Jeff and Mike discuss the recent ice storm and subsequent power outage in Maine; Details of Jeff's solar evaluation; is the Lion Energy Sanctuary a solution; Researchers at UC San Diego exploring self-healing batteries; Exciting research about implantable batteries run on the body’s oxygen; Ferrari has an EV?

203: St. Patrick's Day Tribute: Ireland, Massachusetts, Finland, Curaçao

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 11:00:08 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss Ireland's new BESS; AI energy requirements and implications; More electric school busses in Massachusetts; New smart watch from Suunto with an interesting feature; Jeff goes swimming and has an unfortunate discovery.

202: Sharpen Your Pencils

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 12:00:13 +0000

Jeff and Mike wish you a happy National Battery Day; Lion Energy Eclipse charger still on sale; graphene batteries are getting pretty cutting edge; a fire-proof battery?; playground surprise.

201: Test It Before You Toss It!

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 12:00:12 +0000

Mike and Jeff disuss Jeff's Snow Joe battery woes; Operational tidal kite from Minesto; Call2Recycle Canada and Panasonic open a new facility; VPPs in Puerto Rico; the all electric Porche Macan EV debuts; what other EVs use 800 volt systems.

200: A Couple of 3%-ers Host a Podcast

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 12:00:11 +0000

Jeff and Mike hop on the wayback machine and talk a little bit about Episode 1 and the origins of the show. A special thank you, once again, to the work and memory of John B. Goodenough. A review of the most prevalent Lithium Ion battery chemistries today. Mike muses about iron-air batteries. We close with a fun podcast statistic.

199: What's cooler than being cool? ICE COLD!

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 12:00:11 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss Jeff's Snow Joe Woes as he moves to a new home in Maine; Lines and decreased winter distance for EVs; Mike explores human power generation with his new "Rock the Bike"; Jeff new Mini-UPS setup.

198: Happy New Year...and an EV vs ICE race!

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 12:00:11 +0000

Jeff and Mike wish everyone a very happy new year. In the first show of 2024, the guys discuss swappable batteries for eBikes; Jeff visits Matt at his shop; repairing EV batteries; Edmunds compared an Kia EV6 to a BMW M2; Cars.com starting to do better at EV presentation (and a shout-out to Recurrent Auto).

197: We're Not Retiring Anytime Soon

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 12:00:14 +0000

Mike and Jeff talk about when EV batteries retire (Honda Clarity and Nissan Leaf); Ororo wear holiday gift options; fast charging your Apple laptop; important battery safety tip!

196: 10 Central Parks?

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 12:00:17 +0000

ILB weather report; can Mike's EcoFlow River Max run a cooktop?; NY City changes renewable zoning to allow more solar; Vinyard Wind 1 coming online "really soon"; Historical battery prices; Lithium ion recycling improvements; Introduction of Dual-Ion Batteries.

195: Happy Little Rivian Face

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 12:00:18 +0000

Recycling single use batteries. A sad farewell to RockPals. Jeff has an update on his 2nd year with his SnowJoe two-stage snow thrower. A single-stage snow thrower from Ryobi. Some cool EVs from Cenntro Auto.

194: Battery Saving Time

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 12:00:12 +0000

Jeff and Mike remind you to do some battery things when you change your clocks for daylight saving time; Apple rumored to be making their own batteries; 30A capable power stations from Anker, Bluetti, EcoFlow, and Jackery.

193: What's New at Pale Blue?

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 11:00:15 +0000

Mike and Jeff have the honor of once again hosting Tom Bishop, founder of Pale Blue Earth to catch up on the latest offerings from this dynamic US-based battery innovator!

192: The Green Behind the Green of EV Batteries

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 11:00:13 +0000

Jeff and Mike dive into EV battery costs and some different chemistries that are being used in EV battery packs. Mike gets a battery pack at Marshalls.

191: Once You Go EV, You Never Go Back with Jesse Lore, founder of Green Wave EV

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 11:00:21 +0000

Mike and Jeff are LIVE from Green Wave EV with founder Jesse Lore. Jesse takes us through the origin story of Green Wave and he answers the most frequent questions he receives from customers. Demystifying the Inflation Reduction Act and how it relates to new and used EVs.

190: Jeff Buys a 747

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 03:18:12 +0000

Jeff and Mike discuss Jeff's new Anker 747 charger; Apple to use recycled Cobalt in their batteries by 2025; Toyota's 745 mile prototype with Solid State battery technology; reviewing EV battery longevity.

189: Watch Out for Hilary

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 11:00:15 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss Jeff's bicycle generator project; storm preparedness; watt hour to milliamp hour conversion; EU might be mandating user-swappable batteries by 2027; backup battery types in cell towers.

188: A Canoo That Doesn't Float

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 11:00:11 +0000

Jeff and Mike dive into the BIN. Chevy Bolt production extended through end of the year; Tesla offers standard range EVs again (with a twist); reminder about Recurrent Auto's services; car battery charger and tender review; an electric Ford Explorer?; what is up with the Canoo?

187: How Cool Are You?

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 11:00:14 +0000

Mike and Jeff cover a number of topics this week, including: the Artic Air, Penske truck USB ports, a show release frequency update, the Vinyard Wind 1 wind farm coming online, and great new Lithium Iron Phosphate gear from Lion Energy.

186: 75 to 90 Watt-Hour Power Stations for Under $100

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 11:00:21 +0000

Jeff and Mike review 4 smaller form factor power stations that have between 75 and 90 Watt Hours of capacity and cost under $100! We discuss options from Gensrock, SBAOH, Marbero, and Apowking.

185: Jeff's Alaska Adventure & Model Y Rental Experience

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 11:00:11 +0000

Mike and Jeff recap Jeff's recent trip to Alaska, from a battery perspective, of course! We learn what a "spinning reserve" is in the context of exploring a really big BESS in Fairbanks, Alaska. Jeff rents a Model Y and can't find the wipers.

184: Remembering John B. Goodenough

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 11:00:14 +0000

Jeff and Mike remember John B. Goodenough and his lasting impact on the world, not jus the world of batteries; preview of upcoming small battery pack reviews.

183: Ample Room for Battery Swapping?

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 11:00:18 +0000

Mike and Jeff talk about Jeff's upcoming trip; Jeff is going to rent a Model Y; should you drain your cell phone battery all the way down?; more swappable EV batteries coming?; NIO has a few issues; more about F1 battery tech, including UN38.3 transport rules.

182: Indigenous Phosphate in Montreal?

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 11:00:15 +0000

Jeff and Mike muse about small power packs; they answer a listener question; where do we obtain phosphate for LFP batteries; what about LFP recycling?; Jeff attends the F1 race in Montreal and teaches Mike a thing or two.

181: What's Up with that Funky Shifter?

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 11:00:14 +0000

Bicycle generator project update; Mike visits Jessie at GreenWave EV; Toyota's next generation battery is impressive; goals for energy density of solid-state cells; Runhood Power offerings; Ego battery quirk.

180: Car Talk for Batteries?

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 11:00:17 +0000

LFP v NMC; Jeff's bicycle generator project update; rain gutter power generation; LFP v NMC; Honda EGX racing carts plus other applications; brushed vs brushless motors; tax credit for 3 kWh batteries; ILB rating system in the works.

179: Don't Mix Your Water with your Battery

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 11:00:17 +0000

Mike reminds us how he chains together his battery packs; Jeff's bicycle generator update; more about LFP battery chemistry; electric tanker runs on LFPs; a rabbit hole leads us to a different Power X than we thought we were looking at.

178: Your Food and Beverage Choices Are Up To You

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 11:00:06 +0000

Jeff and Mike answer a listener question about power stations: comparing a Yeti 3000-X to a EcoFlow Delta Max; Jeff attended the Battery Brunch by the Volta Foundation; 2023 Battery Report; Random thoughts about the Power Grid.

177: Starting to Believe: NIO EVs with Swappable Batteries?

Tue, 30 May 2023 11:00:10 +0000

Mike and Jeff talk about something referred to as site energy; small scale solar considerations; diving deeper into Amazon's Rivian-supplied electric delivery trucks; how did we not know about NIO EVs?

176: Big Batteries Down Under

Tue, 23 May 2023 11:00:10 +0000

Jeff and Mike discuss: Jeff's bicycle generator project update; big batteries down under; hydropower in the news; more clean energy projects in the united states; KIA EV 9.

175: Bye, Bye, Bolt

Tue, 16 May 2023 11:00:09 +0000

Mike and Jeff get an update on Jeff's bicycle generator project; Chevy is shutting down production of the Bolt EV; Ultium Cells offers up a new chemistry; Fisker and Ample partner to offer swappable EV batteries in the Fisker Ocean; Walmart and Energizer caught up in a single-use battery conspriacy (just use Pale Blue Earth rechargeables instead).

174: Sometimes the Zero is Significant

Tue, 09 May 2023 11:00:09 +0000

Jeff and Mike follow-up on battery tenders vs trickle chargers; another gripe about battery naming; competition for "gravith batteries"; Jeff's bicycle power generator project begins to take shape.

173: The Other Battery Bus

Tue, 02 May 2023 11:00:15 +0000

Mike and Jeff cover a wide range of topics this week: Jeff commits to startnig a bicycle-based power generation project, and talks about his weekend battery charging activities; Mike talks about how his 9-Bot scooter holds a charge. Also, cool battery buses in Beverly Massachusetts, lithium price drops and an udpated Cayenne Hybrid from Porsche.

172: Swapping and Shedding and Heating

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 11:00:12 +0000

Jeff and Mike discuss a unique set of power stations from RunHood Power; they respond to an email from Jim Gregory of PedalPC about Mike's battery shed and also about an article that Jim wrote regarding human power and a unique way to use it.

171: Batteries on Mars?

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 11:00:15 +0000

Mike and Jeff speculate on NASA plans to 3D print batteries on Mars. Saving the planet one e-bike at a time! Ryobi e-bike DIY!

170: Who's Down with VPP?

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 11:00:14 +0000

Discovering and exploring Virtual Power Plants (VPP); Considerations for ways to power some of your devices instead of your whole home; Generating power from exercise? Jeff might have a project!

169: Let's Do Some Math

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 11:00:14 +0000

Mike and Jeff do some math to help you figure out how much of your electric bill can be replaced by a portable power station! Yes, tradeoffs!

168: Electric Bill Breakdown

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 11:00:15 +0000

Jeff and Mike discuss how to make it through a power outage with small power stations; solar + battery pack solutions; evaluating your electric bill

167: You Should Refine Your Lithium Closer to Home (with Saad Dara of Mangrove Lithium, Part 2)

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 11:00:14 +0000

Jeff and Mike are once again joined by the founder of Mangrove Lithium, Saad Dara, for continued discussions about their processes and how they can significantly reduce costs in the battery manufacturing process; economic and job opportunities for those in the fossil fuel industry; do you know where sodium sulfate comes from? or where it goes? Listen in to find out!

166: Battery Grade Lithium Refining, Part 1 with Saad Dara of Mangrove Lithium

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 11:00:24 +0000

Today, Jeff and Mike are excited to host Dr. Saad Dara from Mangrove Lithium. Mangrove has developed an electro-chemical lithium refining process that is not only simpler than current methodologies, but also minimizes environmental impacts. You'll definiltey learn something this week!

165: Batteries Can Be Out of This World!

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 12:00:15 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss real-world second life battery usage in California; NASA and batteries that can survive the hostile environment on the planet Venus; exploring the home storage options from Growatt Energy.

164: Tools of the Trade with Matt Lamontagne

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 12:00:09 +0000

Jeff and Mike continue their conversation with Matt Lamontagne of Leo & Son's Auto Repair. We get into the diagnostic tools that Matt uses on a daily basis; thoughts on hybrid electric vehicles; battery upgrades; EV mod's and Matt's opinion of the Corvette eRay.

163: Living the Degraded Battery Lifestyle with Matt Lamontagne

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 12:00:11 +0000

Mike and Jeff are delighted to welcome back to the show our only 4 time guest (so far), Matt Lamontagne of Leo & Son's Auto Repair. Matt tells us a not so great story about his Mach-E; we discuss the two types of battery systems in EVs; a discussion about hybrids.

162: I Like Cooking with Batteries

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 12:00:15 +0000

Jeff and Mike review a bunch of different ways to cook with battery power. Options from Makita, Aleko, Kadell, a couple from Crockpot, and an amazing travel oven from KickAss Products.

161: Don't Boil Your Batteries

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 12:00:15 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss inclement weather battery strategies; Jeff buys a new shaver; let's review the BYOB EcoSimmer and three power stations that might run it.

160: Extra Motors Aren't Free

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 12:00:10 +0000

Jeff and Mike unpack the lower priced Model Y (and nick-pick Tesla battery naming); a question about Tesla battery production costs; what the heck is going on in Wyoming?; how big is the battery reuse market?

159: Two Wind Turbines on a Stick?

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 12:00:11 +0000

Mike and Jeff dig into a few more standouts from CES 2023, and answer the question, "What is a solar gallon?"

158: All battery power, everywhere, all the time (CES 2023)

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 12:00:10 +0000

Jeff and Mike recap the battery-related news out of the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Jeff tells a story about Hue smart bulbs.

157: Are You More Night Rider or Battlestar Galactica?

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 12:00:18 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss cold weather battery considerations; Mike upgrades his EcoFlow River; a battery-powered TV; aluminum-ion battery technology; Apple battery-replacment prices going up March 1st; stress drains your body's battery.

156: You Mean to Tell Me There's a Flame in There?

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 12:00:17 +0000

Jeff and Mike hop into the BIN for news about battery powered generator startup Moxion, and some EV news from Honda; Jeff gives an update on the SnowJoe snow thrower; Mike begins exploring hand warmers.

155: The Polestar 2 Test Drive

Tue, 27 Dec 2022 12:00:15 +0000

In this final episode of 2022: Jeff takes a Polestar 2 for a test drive around Boston. Mike shares something that will keep you from running flat.

154: Jeff's SnowJoe Arrives!

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 12:00:09 +0000

Jeff goes over the delivery and assembly experiences of the SnowJoe snow blower that arrived since last week's show.

153: Don't Be So Harsh

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 12:00:08 +0000

Jeff buys a SnowJoe snow blower; replacing 2032 batteries in your AirTags; solid state EV batteries closer to reality?; Jeff considers a Polestar 2.

152: Two-Stage Snow Throwers

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 12:00:11 +0000

100 episodes after they first talked about battery powered snow throwers, Jeff and Mike review the latest two-stage versions from Ryobi, EGO, Toro, Greenworks, and SnowJoe. There might be a mega-deal lurking inside this episode!

151: Credit where Credit is Due

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 12:00:09 +0000

Mike and Jeff hop into the BIN for discussion of the highest energy density 18650 and upcoming changes to the federal tax credit for EVs; exploding markets for EV manufacturing in the US; what the heck is LCOE?

150: Looking Back, Looking Forward

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 12:00:15 +0000

Jeff and Mike reflect on 3 years of podcasting, share their favorite episodes, and thank the guests who were gracious enough to spend some time with us this year. #thankful

149: LFP-based Power Stations for under $250?

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 12:00:10 +0000

Pre-Black Friday Power Stations. Mike and Jeff highlight 4 lithium-iron-phosphate-based power stations that each cost under $250 currently. We compare the EcoFlow River 2, the Anker 521 Powerhouse, the Bluetti EB3A, and the DaranEner NEO300.

148: It's Going to Have to Be Goodenough

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 12:00:07 +0000

Jeff and Mike encounter a real-world example of couterfeit batteries in an unlikely situation; Honda battery swapping station in Tokyo may remind you of another company; EcoFlow announces the River 2 series of power stations; Thanks to John. B. Goodenough for his contributions to lithium-ion battery technology.

147: Taming Thermal Runaway

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 11:00:09 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss, and attempt to answer, a listener question; Jeff has a Makita battery story; the difference between 120 volts and 240 volts; understanding thermal runaway.

146: BOTH of Jeff's Ego's on Display

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 11:00:13 +0000

Jeff and Mike follow up on the AC/DC inverter discussion by exploring DC-DC converters; smart phone battery comparison; second life for EV batteries; Li-Cycle.com.

145: Inverted AC/DC

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 11:00:12 +0000

Mike and Jeff explore and FBI warning, seaweed battery separators and the Wheatridge power plant in the BIN; unpacking types of inverter ratings and how much loss there is when using an inverter.

144: Storm Surge

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 11:00:08 +0000

Jeff and Mike remind people about Red Cross disaster relief; dig deeper into Vehicle to Grid (V2G); explore an iron-air battery; intro to the Powerhouse and Power Pods from Nature's Generator.

143: Going With the Flow on the River

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 11:00:11 +0000

Happy Birthday to Mike! Mike and Jeff dive into the BIN for an introduction to V2G; Jeff has a power outage and doesn't use his ICE generator; an EcoFlow "Pro Tip"; why customer feedback is important; Jeff reviews the EcoFlow iOS app.

142: Be Prepared for Under $100

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 11:00:12 +0000

Jeff and Mike explore Emergency Preparedness Month with options for under $100.

141: You Should Know About the Battery Ingestion Hotline

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 11:00:19 +0000

Mike and Jeff present a public service announcement, especially for parents and grandparents. Crustaceans in the BIN.

140: High Fives with Tom Bishop of Paleblue (Part 2 of 2)

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 11:00:11 +0000

In this second part of the interview with Tom Bishop of Paleblue Earth, Jeff and Mike dive into some creative intitiatives underway at Paleblue, 1% for the Planet and whether it is possible to harness the energy of the batteries that are discarded every day. Definitely a "don't mis it" episode!

139: I USB-C What You Did There with Tom Bishop of Paleblue (Part 1 of 2)

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 11:28:56 +0000

Mike and Jeff are honored to have Tom Bishop of Paleblue Earth join us for a second time and fill us in on their amazing product line and strong growth over the last 18 months! Exclusive announcement inside this episode!

138: Sig, Sig, Segway

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 11:00:12 +0000

Jeff gives an update on his replacement EcoFlow River. The guys talk about single use battery recycling and then segue into a discussion of Segway scooters.

137: Celebrating Battery Birthdays

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 11:00:14 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss battery replacements and then MacBook Air battery calibration. Then they move onto EV efficiency, and then explore a newcomer to the portable power station market.

136: It's Your Responsibility as a Rivian Owner

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 11:00:11 +0000

Jeff and Mike welcome Brian who is a new Rivian R1T owner. Brian gives us the inside scoop on all things related to his new EV! Rivian, are you listening? You should be!

135: What's Older than Vintage?

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 11:00:12 +0000

Update on Jeff's River. Eneloops have a unique characteristic. Paleblue AA's have stable voltage. Mobile phone and laptop battery replacement. And, in the BIN, what will become of gas stations?

134: The Case for Single Use Batteries

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 11:00:08 +0000

Jeff and Mike dive into the BIN to talk about a click-bait single use battery article and some re-purposing that Kodak is doing. Jeff's Ecoflow River arrives and he gives first impressions. iLikeBatteries reaches a download milestone.

133: The Batteries of Our Lives

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 11:00:11 +0000

Mike and Jeff explore different kinds of large scale "batteries" (not all of which we agree should be called batteries). The guys discover Vanadium. Jeff buys a River.

132: We're Big (on) Fans

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 11:00:13 +0000

Jeff and Mike dig deeper into the Hubble space telescope batteries and discover what is in the Webb telescope; a survey of some different battery powered fans (with build in batteries).

131: Hubble-ing Along on Nickel-Hydrogen Batteries

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 11:00:10 +0000

Mike and Jeff dive into the BIN to talk about the amazing longevity of the batteries in the Hubble Space Telescope; a warning about evaporating electrolytes; and Jack's EcoFlow comes in handy in Florida.

130: What if you just need to run out for some milk?

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 11:00:13 +0000

Jeff and Mike answer some questions that came up recently about per-tank ranges for ICE vehicles and places you might be able to drive 100 mph. Then the guys go down a rabbit hole and explore battery-powered go-karts.

129: Sunny Day, Sweepin' the clouds away

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 11:02:50 +0000

Jeff charges some iPhones off of the sun. New innovations by Sesame Solar. Mike and Jeff answer a listener question about voltage, which leads to a discussion about what it means to combine batteries in series or in parallel.

128: Say Goodbye to Range Anxiety?

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 11:00:11 +0000

Jeff and Mike dive into the BIN to discuss innovations in battery charging speeds from Enovix, dual-chemistry batteries maybe going into BMW's iX EV SUV, and Aptera closes a funding round.

127: A Matter of Voltage

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 11:00:11 +0000

Mike gives a quick update on the battery shed. Jeff follows up on Mike's solar charging challenge with some research and tips. Unique new charging options for Apple's brand new M2-based MacBook Air.

126: Well Charged Ego's and Ryobi Skateboards?

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 11:00:18 +0000

Jeff and Mike dive into the BIN for some news out of Hawaii as well as skyscraper "batteries"; Battery powered lawn mower updates and Jeff's tip for EGO battery removal; Mike poses a solar challenge to Jeff.

125: Breaking Bad (Batteries)

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 11:00:09 +0000

Mike and Jeff highlight a federal program to encourage better school busses; they revisit the Dyson battery issue with fresh information; Guinness World Records for EVs; Solid State Battery chemistry. Shout out to Brandon Boggs.

124: Little House of Batteries

Fri, 27 May 2022 11:00:12 +0000

Jeff and Mike share a way of estimating home energy usage from ShopSolarKits.com; Battery Powered RVs are coming from Winnebago, Thor Industries, Mercedes-Benz, and Nissan. Introduction of Aptera.

123: Making Sense of Your Energy Usage

Fri, 20 May 2022 11:00:13 +0000

Mike and Jeff dive into the BIN for a cool solar project in Portugal and the need for an ichthyologist. Then they look into monitoring solutions from TopGreener.com, Sense.com, Eyedro.com, and EmporiaEnergy.com. Mike learns about the shoulder seasons.

122: Powering Your Power Station

Fri, 13 May 2022 11:00:16 +0000

Jeff and Mike do a survey of 100 watt solar panels from the same four companies we discussed last week: Nature's Generator, Goal Zero, Lion Energy, and EcoFlow. At the end of the episode we dig into the BIN.

121: FIRST, Off the Shelf; THEN, Out of the Box

Fri, 06 May 2022 11:00:10 +0000

Mike and Jeff dive into options for storing solar, and possibly wind, energy. We go over options from Nature's Generator, Goal Zero, Lion Energy and EcoFlow. Which ones can you plug into your house?

120: Some Batteries Are Misbehaving

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 11:00:15 +0000

Jeff and Mike discuss Jeff's misbehaving batteries; bad math on a RAVPower power pack? AC or DC for wind generators? Why we sometimes prefer alternating current over direct current. We're going to watch "The Current War".

119: Eat the Elephant One Bite at a Time

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 11:00:17 +0000

Mike and Jeff with you a happy Earth Day! Today we reach into the BIN to discuss a fire at a battery recycling facility and a community battery storage project in Australia. This leads us to talk about Jeff's solar situation and some LED rope lights that Mike picked up that have a suprising battery chemistry.

118: Why Are My Electrons More Expensive Now?

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 11:00:13 +0000

Jeff and Mike unpack their electric bills, recent electricity increases in New England, the differences that exist between neighboring states, and how batteries might help us bridge the gap.

117: Printing on the Go?

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 11:00:14 +0000

Mike and Jeff take a quick tour through the world of battery-powered printers. Sometimes the details are dificult to find!

116: It Can't Work Just Once; What's Next with Sergrio Mendoza (Part 3 of 3)

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 11:00:11 +0000

Jeff and Mike welcome Sergio Mendoza for part 3 of our discussion. In this segment we consider different anode and cathode materials and explore what might be coming in the future. F1, Tesla, and Apple and implications of "being cool".

115: Digging Deeper into Battery Longevity with Sergio Mendoza (Part 2 of 3)

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 11:13:03 +0000

Jeff and Mike welcome certified lithium-ion battery expert, PhD in Mechanical Engineering, and all around great guy, Sergio Mendoza. In part two of a three part series, Sergio teaches us about battery capacity and the things that we can do to prolong the lives of our batteries.

114: Torturing Cells Until They Talk with Sergio Mendoza (Part 1 of 3)

Fri, 18 Mar 2022 11:00:18 +0000

Jeff and Mike welcome certified lithium-ion battery expert, PhD in Mechanical Engineering, and all around great guy, Sergio Mendoza. In this first part of a three part series, Sergio starts off with some battery basics, and then we dig into battery manufacturing and testing, and what we can expect in the future.

This show was recorded before the situation in Ukraine and we send our support to the people of Ukraine during this difficult time.

113: A Long, Casual Drive with Lots of Charging in the Middle

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 12:00:08 +0000

Mike and Jeff dig into the BIN. A Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo on Pike's Peak, Apple Support article about battery temperature, Mike found another Mac battery app. Mike udpates us on the progress of the battery shed.

112: Ask Questions Later - Scott Case of Recurrent Auto (2 of 2)

Fri, 04 Mar 2022 12:07:48 +0000

Jeff and Mike are honored to host Scott Case, Co-Founder and CEO of Recurrent Auto. By providing more transparency and confidence in pre-owned electric car transactions, Recurrent's mission is to accelerate the overall adoption of electric vehicles. Today the health of an electric vehicle battery is a black box. Recurrent is working to change that by collaborating with thousands of EV drivers and introducing advanced machine learning.

111: Wanderings in the Tropical Rain Forest - Scott Case of Recurrent Auto (1 of 2)

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 12:00:11 +0000

Mike and Jeff are honored to host Scott Case, Co-Founder and CEO of Recurrent Auto. By providing more transparency and confidence in pre-owned electric car transactions, Recurrent's mission is to accelerate the overall adoption of electric vehicles. Today the health of an electric vehicle battery is a black box. Recurrent is working to change that by collaborating with thousands of EV drivers and introducing advanced machine learning.

110: Some Don't Like It Hot

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 12:00:15 +0000

Jeff and Mike dive into conditions that can influence the longevity of your battery, especially when it comes to EVs. Batteries in the news.

109: Where Did My Lithium Go?

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 12:00:05 +0000

Mike and Jeff dive DEEP into battery degradation by first explaining some battery basics, then going into the details of both cyclic and calendar aging of lithium ion batteries. Mike has a "Cold Things Found" entry, and there was "not your average speed bump" at Jeff's house.

108: Big Batteries On Campus: Ian Jones of Sunbolt, Part 2 of 2

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 12:00:10 +0000

Jeff and Mike host entrepreneur and founder of Sunbolt, Ian Jones. In the devastating aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, Ian Jones watched as over 8 million homes lost power in 17 states. With thousands of people draining their car batteries to charge their phones, he instinctively recognized the need for an off-grid solution that would provide electricity during major power outages. He founded Sunbolt to create the solution. Sunbolt is the leading manufacturer for solar powered charging solutions, including workstations, tables, and stand-up charging stations.

Ian earned his Master of Business Administration from The Wharton School. Earlier in his career, he was an international designer, builder and operator of municipal scale water desalination plants and utilities. He went on to become widely regarded as a prominent Northeast real estate developer, responsible for development of over 15,000 homes and 10 million square feet of commercial real estate. He resides in CT, frequently enjoys skiing, cycling, car racing and scuba diving. He was a member of the US Cycling Team, Pan American Games Team, Road Cycling and 1980 Olympic Team but his proudest achievement is being father to three wonderful children.

107: Not That Bolt - Ian Jones of Sunbolt, Part 1

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 12:11:08 +0000

Mike and Jeff host entrepreneur and founder of Sunbolt, Ian Jones. In the devastating aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, Ian Jones watched as over 8 million homes lost power in 17 states. With thousands of people draining their car batteries to charge their phones, he instinctively recognized the need for an off-grid solution that would provide electricity during major power outages. He founded Sunbolt to create the solution. Sunbolt is the leading manufacturer for solar powered charging solutions, including workstations, tables, and stand-up charging stations.

106: Don't buy a Leaf, Eventually We'll Tell You Why...

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 12:00:12 +0000

Jeff shares a fun home repair story. Mike finds himself looking more seriously at used EV's. Jeff comes across a YouTube video that the guys will be digging deeper into in future episodes.

105: Shock the Battery

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 12:00:08 +0000

Mike and Jeff have a follow-up to our great episode with Will Lenharth; Batteries in the News segment covers biodegradable batteries, zombie lithium, and experimental anode material that enables 10x battery charging rates; Jeff has a battery rant.

104: Up In Flames with Will Lenharth

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 12:00:10 +0000

Jeff and Mike start 2022 with special guest Will Lenharth. Will runs a local computer business in Barrington, New Hampshire, but he's also been a firefighter for 30 years. Will shares his firefighting wisdom with us, including: how they prepare to handle modern fire hazards (like, you know, battery fires), as well as what you can do to make sure you, and your home, are prepared should a first responder need to pay you a visit.

103: Another Cycle Around the Sun

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 12:00:07 +0000

Mike and Jeff wrap up 2021 with some follow-ups to Episode 100 where they looked at battery production costs and how that relates to lifetime costs for EVs. Jeff test drives a Taycan 4S. Looking ahead to 2022.

102: Jim Gregory and the PedalPC (Part 2 of 2)

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 12:00:08 +0000

Jeff and Mike conclude their conversation with Jim Gregory of PedalPC.com. Jim has been powering his laptop, internet (modem + router), and web server for the last 10 years using a custom rig that he designed, built, and evolved himself. In this episode we explore the origin story and get into the details of his amazing setup. Head on over to PedalPC.com to see the LIVE battery status!

101: Jim Gregory and the PedalPC (Part 1 of 2)

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 12:00:11 +0000

Mike and Jeff host Jim Gregory of PedalPC.com. Jim has been powering his laptop, internet (modem + router), and web server for the last 10 years using a custom rig that he designed, built, and evolved himself. In this episode we explore the origin story and get into the details of his amazing setup. Head on over to PedalPC.com to see the LIVE battery status!

100: Finally Charged to 100

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 12:00:11 +0000

Jeff and Mike are grateful to have reached episode 100 and reflect on making it to this point. Listen to hear about show statistics, and how we produce the podcast. Then we have a quick discussion of battery costs and what we're looking forward to. And plenty of thanks!

099: How Do You Get Fully Charged?

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 12:00:20 +0000

Mike and Jeff get all charged up about chargers. Or are they power adapters? Or power supplies?

098: Matt Lamontagne's Electric Ponies

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 12:08:19 +0000

Jeff and Mike are joined by Matt Lamontagne for the third time! Matt answers listener EV questions, tells us about his new Mustang Mach-E, how to have fun by voiding the warranty in your Tesla, a right to repair discussion, and what's up with lead acid batteries in EVs.

097: Junk in the Frunk

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 12:06:25 +0000

Mike and Jeff attend an EV meetup in Dover, NH where they discover some odd things under the hoods of a few different vehicles; E-Bike Classifications (wear your helmet); Review of EV charging station levels.

096: Energizing Connections

Fri, 12 Nov 2021 12:00:10 +0000

Jeff and Mike reveal some exciting things coming soon from iLikeBatteries; some excellent battery-related tidbits in the recently signed Infrastructure Bill; and, as always, Gratitude.

095: A Date with Battery Dates, and Winter

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 11:00:09 +0000

Mike and Jeff explore battery expiration dates, battery self-discharge rates, lead acid car battery manufacture dates, and a jump start story.

094: Three Books and Some Soup

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 11:00:13 +0000

Jeff and Mike inadvertantly recommend 3 books while discussing lighting an ourdoor fire with the Sparkr, a Porsche Taycan option to avoid, Hertz's Tesla Model 3 purchase, and Dyson going all in on solid state batteries. And a soup story. The Art of Impossible (Steven Kotler), Invention: A Life (James Dyson), Thinkertoys (Michael Michalko).

093: Don't Scarf My Solar Panel

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 11:00:10 +0000

Mike and Jeff find a battery powered heated scarf just in time for Fall; solar panel follow-up; Mike gets his NowLight.

092: Segway Segue Segway

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 11:00:09 +0000

Jeff and Mike touch on solar panel lifespans, have a follow-up to our EV plate discussion, chat about segway scooters, and then about some interesting swappable battery tech.

091: Keep the Recycle Cycle Going

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 11:00:06 +0000

Mike and Jeff discover why EV license plates are not an ego trip; more on expanding the recycling stream; what about overall energy usage during the recycling process?

090: Enough Power To Go WAY BACK In Time

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 11:00:10 +0000

Jeff gives Mike a birthday present. Excellent news from Gravitricity. Lucid Air goes 520 miles on a single charge. Porsche Cayman and Boxster to go electric in 2025. Ford Lightning strikes twice. The rise of the gigafactory.

089: Are Batteries Jumping Ship?

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 11:00:06 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss batteries in the news, including some interesting things that VW is doing with leases, a battery-powered inland ship with swappable batteries and some Back to the Future nonsense.

088: Batteries and Hot Dogs

Fri, 17 Sep 2021 11:00:08 +0000

Jeff and Mike continue on their battery safety kick with an ironic local news story, and then they dig into some specifics of the NMC battery chemistry as a follow-up to our discussion with Shawn Murphy.

087: Controlled Thermal Events and the Future of Pyrotechnics

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 11:00:10 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss some powerful products, and start to learn about thermoelectrics, including the Seebeck Effect and the Peltier Effect. Charging your phone with fire?

086: Hearts, Souls, and Checkbooks, with Shawn Murphy from Titan Advanced Energy Solutions

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 11:00:05 +0000

Jeff and Mike wrap up our 3 part conversation with Shawn Murphy. We get into the future of batteries, giga-factories, lessons in economics, legacy, twitter environmentalists, data, and inspiration!

085: Like California on Steriods, with Shawn Murphy from Titan Advanced Energy Solutions

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 11:00:40 +0000

Mike and Jeff continue with part 2 of their 3 episode conversation with Shawn Murphy from Titan Advanced Energy Solutions. In this episode we dig deeper into Titan's technology, battery recycling, and the "happy accident".

084: Better, Smarter, & Safer Batteries with Titan Advanced Energy Solutions

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 11:00:09 +0000

Jeff and Mike had the distinct pleasure to spend some time at the headquarters of Titan Advanced Energy Solutions on the waterfront in Salem, Massachusetts. We received an incredible tour (thanks Jeff Kowalski), and then sat down with Founder and CEO, Shawn Murphy, for a journey you will not want to miss. This is part 1 of 2 (or maybe 3?) episodes.

083: Batteries that Bounce

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 11:00:58 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss different ways to test your batteries, including one unique way that involves nothing more than a table top and gravity.

082: You Sank My SUB-marine!

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 11:00:13 +0000

Jeff and Mike dive deeper into battery recycling, especially Single Use Batteries (SUBs). Should there be a deposit on single use cells? They also touch on battery safety.

081: Recycling Soapbox

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 11:00:12 +0000

Mike and Jeff chat about some leaking alkaline batteries that Jeff came across, and then they get on their soapboxes and talk about battery recycling. Much more to come on that!

080: Old Friends and Potatoes

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 11:00:12 +0000

Jeff and Mike re-visit the current offerings of some of their previous guests (FYI: powerful stuff!). Jeff is compelled to correct Mike on a "po-tay-toe" vs "po-tah-toe" thing.

079: Batteries and Water, Don't Mix!

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 11:00:46 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss battery safety and start learning about what to do in the case of a thermal event. Jeff compares "fuel" costs of his Cayman with a Taycan (and other EVs).

078: Mini-UPS and New Eero Woes - We Know Jack

Fri, 09 Jul 2021 11:00:31 +0000

Jeff shares with Mike the details of his latest home WiFi and mini-UPS adventure. Jeff learns an interesting tidbit about his M1 MacBook Air's power draw. We respond to a listener's twitter post.

077: When Your Batteries Need to Rest

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 11:01:27 +0000

Mike and Jeff explore battery capacity loss during longer term storage, and what it takes for batteries to fly.

076: ICE, ICE, BEV-y

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 11:00:50 +0000

Jeff and Mike talk about Father's Day, and then get into some car-related batteries in the news as well as a discussion about different ways to compare BEV's. Mini-UPS, revisited.

075: 80 is the New 100

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 11:00:01 +0000

Matt Lamontangne makes his second "appearance" on the show and helps Mike and Jeff answer some listener questions about EV batteries.

074: Field Trip Follow-Up

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 11:01:44 +0000

Mike tells Jeff about his visit to see Matt Lamontangne at Leo & Son's. A new segment in the making? Is anyone interested in an iLikeBatteries YouTube channel?

073: Sometimes We're a Little Cooler

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 11:00:14 +0000

With the arrival of Summer, Mike and Jeff see what they can discover about battery powered coolers, refrigerators, and freezers. Some of them are definitely cooler than others.

072: USB Plus!

Fri, 28 May 2021 11:00:13 +0000

Jeff and Mike dig deep into the origins of the Universal Serial Bus and how it relates to data transfer and power delivery.

071: The EV Crossover Show, Part 2

Fri, 21 May 2021 11:00:10 +0000

Part 2 of Jeff and Mike's coversation with YouTube creators and podcast hosts Alex Sibila and Brandan Boggs. In this episide we get to know a little bit more about Alex's Model 3 and Brandan's Bolt. They both have stared range anxiety in the face...listen to see how that turned out.

070: The EV Crossover Show, Part 1

Fri, 14 May 2021 11:00:15 +0000

Jeff and Mike host Alex Sibila and Brandan Boggs to discuss all things EV. Alex and Brandan are electric vehicle enthusiasts who share a passion for education and content production. They each run an EV-focused YouTube channel, and host a new podcast together called Living Electric. We had so much fun chatting that Part 2 will drop next week.

069: Happy Little Batteries

Fri, 07 May 2021 11:00:17 +0000

Mike and Jeff touch on batteries both large and small in this episode. We talk about Porsche's battery aspirations, the NEEAA.org meetup that Jeff attended, repurposing and recycling all types of batteries, and the A23 and how that might lead you to wanting a talking Bob Ross bobblehead.

068: Experts in Power

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 11:00:15 +0000

Jeff and Mike host Bryan Bautista of ExpertPower to discuss their numerous product offerings in the battery space. We talk about their replacement batteries, and mid-sized and large power stations.

067: Avoiding Thermal Events with Matt Lamontagne

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 11:00:15 +0000

Mike and Jeff host Matt Lamontagne from Leo & Sons Auto Repair on South Broadway in Lawrence, MA. Matt takes us on a Hybrid and EV journey from a side we don't often see: out of warranty repair and maintenance. This is a fun episide and we plan to invite Matt back again in the future. Enjoy!

Matt is an ASE Certified Master Technician and holds L1 (Automotive) and L3 (Hybrid) Advanced Level ASE Certifications. Matt specializes in diagnosing and repairing hybrid and electric vehicles and is also holds a Master Hybrid Technician certification by Automotive Career Development Center.

066: ICE cold truth of EV shopping

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 11:00:51 +0000

Jeff and Mike discover that most car shopping sites aren't yet up to the task of EV shopping. Jeff has a quick capacity update on his Energizer AAA's.

065: Why the Y, Brandon? - Part 2 of 2

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 11:00:49 +0000

Jeff and Mike wrap up their conversation with Brandon Barba, a co-worker of Jeff's who just acquired a Model Y in Massachusetts. In part 2, we discuss charging, range anxiety, and mattresses.

064: Why the Y, Brandon? - Part 1 of 2

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 11:05:24 +0000

Jeff and Mike host Brandon Barba, a co-worker of Jeff's who just acquired a Model Y in Massachusetts. In part 1 we explore Brandon's previous vehicle, his choice of the Model Y, and the purchase process.

063: It is ok to be blue, maybe you'll find your sanctuary

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 11:01:07 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss a better way to talk about EV range and do an off the cuff comparison of some whole house auxiliary battery systems. Jeff offers a quick take on "unboxing" of the Pale Blue Earth AA, 9V and D cells.

062: Every Which Way But Loose

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 11:00:46 +0000

Jeff and Mike tie up some loose ends. Jeff "completes" his UPS journey. Heavy hearts are bad. How about an SSB? The Double Whammy. Can your Tile be a retriever retriever?

061: Mr. Wind and the Unexpected Test

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 12:00:21 +0000

Mike and Jeff record the episode while Jeff is running on a generator. Does Jeff's internet survive a power outage? More on purchases of power stations, and a powerful thing discussed.

060: Thank You for the Unplug

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:18 +0000

Jeff and Mike discuss the near completion of Jeff's UPS journey. But there's an issue, so they have to re-review some of their previous assumptions. TL;DL: Read the manual BEFORE you buy.

059: Those Battery Guys Will "Say Anything"

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 12:00:14 +0000

The power station and the Mini UPS arrive, but there are issues. Batteries in the News segment explores phasing out of ICE vehicles. Powerful Stuff Found.

058: UPS Updates: Discovery of the Mini UPS

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 12:00:15 +0000

Jeff updates Mike on the progress of his UPS setup. A power station has been ordered and Jeff discovers the Mini UPS, which looks to be the perfect solution for what he needs.

057: Jeff's UPS - The Traditional Approach

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 12:00:35 +0000

Mike and Jeff explore more traditional UPS options for Jeff's home setup. As you will hear, there are A LOT of options to sort through.

056: Jeff's UPS - In Which We Consider Power Stations

Fri, 05 Feb 2021 12:00:15 +0000

Jeff and Mike explore the possibility of using a portable power station as part of a UPS-style backup system for Jeff's home office setup. The results may surprise you.

055: Pale Blue Earth (Part 2 of 2)

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 12:01:11 +0000

Mike and Jeff host Tom Bishop, co-founder of Pale Blue Earth. Pale Blue is focused on creating a better future by leveraging technology, innovation, and inspired product creation to greatly improve our utilization of energy and resources and greatly reduce the amount of waste we all produce.

054: Pale Blue Earth (Part 1 of 2)

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 12:00:12 +0000

Jeff and Mike host Tom Bishop, co-founder of Pale Blue Earth. Pale Blue is focused on creating a better future by leveraging technology, innovation, and inspired product creation to greatly improve our utilization of energy and resources and greatly reduce the amount of waste we all produce.

053: UPS and downs

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 12:00:12 +0000

In section one of this episode, Mike and Jeff begin exploring Jeff's quest for the best Uninterruptible Power Supply for his home setup. Section two has some surprises, including, believe it or not, battery powered pallet jacks?

052: Throwing Some Snow Around

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 12:00:21 +0000

Jeff and Mike review some battery powered tools for snow removal and cleanup. Please ignore the intermittent background noise of a tile saw, Jeff is having some work done in an adjascent room.

051: Lion Energy - Part 2 of 2

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 12:00:17 +0000

Mike and Jeff host David Whitlock of Lion Energy in Part 2 of our discussion. Happy New Year!

050: The Gift

Fri, 25 Dec 2020 12:00:15 +0000

Happy Holidays from iLikeBatteries! In this special episode, Jeff and Mike discuss how they got started with the podcast, some behind the scenes details about the show and some things they are thankful for.

049: Lion Energy - Part 1 of 2

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 12:00:16 +0000

Mike and Jeff host David Whitlock of Lion Energy. We had a lot to talk about so we're splitting this into two episodes. Enjoy.

048: Fully Charged for the Holidays

Fri, 11 Dec 2020 12:00:15 +0000

Jeff and Mike follow up on Black Friday deals as we prepare for the holiday gift giving season. They explore gifts under $25, under $100 and under $500. Some nice surprises are unwrapped.

047: Bottom's Up!

Fri, 04 Dec 2020 12:00:15 +0000

Mike and Jeff round out the heated clothing episodes discussing heated pants.

046: Make a Wish!

Fri, 27 Nov 2020 12:01:18 +0000

Mike and Jeff share their holiday wish lists, including some Black Friday deals you might want to consider. Gifts always welcome.

045: The Rabbit Hole

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 12:00:10 +0000

Jeff and Mike explore a battery machine learning journey Jeff went on last week as it relates to a possible future version of FruitJuice.

044: Beans and Leaves

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 12:00:11 +0000

Jeff and Mike wake up to the idea of battery powered mugs for coffee, tea and other hot and cold "beverages".

043: Hot Dogs?

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 12:00:18 +0000

Mike and Jeff take on the "accessories" category of battery powered heated "clothing". Stay warm out there!

042: Jackets, Vests, and Base Layers, Oh My!

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 11:00:16 +0000

Jeff and Mike survey the options for keeping your core warm with heated jackets, vests and base layers. And More!

041: Putting some Soles into your Shoes

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 11:00:14 +0000

Mike and Jeff investigate, in close to real-time, battery-powered accessories to keep your feet warm.

040: Pandora's Glove Box

Fri, 16 Oct 2020 11:00:11 +0000

Jeff and Mike attempt to get a handle on the myriad of options in the heated glove market.

039: Electric Winter

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 11:00:17 +0000

As cooler weather depends upon New England, Mike and Jeff give an overview of a product segment they recently discovered that they believe you'll be hot for. Layering up for future episodes.

038: Battery Day Commentary

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 11:00:17 +0000

Mike and Jeff react to Tesla's Battery Day announcements.

037: Chi-Chi-USB? (or is that Qi-Qi-USB?)

Fri, 25 Sep 2020 11:00:00 +0000

Jeff fills Mike in on the latest with his battery case builds and other purchases. They discuss some UPS options for Jeff's internet setup.

036: All Charged Up

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 11:00:15 +0000

Jeff and Mike expand upon a recent Twitter thread to dive into "chargers" and break down what they are and the many different types of chargers that are around. #NotACarShow

035: Adventures in Battery Pack Building Land

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 11:00:13 +0000

Jeff discusses the current status of his recent battery pack parts acquisitions. Mike updates us on his shed.

034: Will You Be Our (Rock) Pals?

Fri, 04 Sep 2020 11:00:12 +0000

Jeff and Mike host Lily and Mia from ROCKPALS who tell us about their battery (and non-battery) powered products for outdoor enthusiasts!

033: Go Big or Go Home

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 11:00:12 +0000

Mike and Jeff review 4 different power stations that are greater than 2000 Watt hours.

032: Jeff Goes Shopping

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 11:00:13 +0000

Jeff shares his recent battery container shopping experiences with Mike; and why you won't hear about it for quite some time.

031: Dave Nanian Likes Battery-Powered Cars (Part 2 of 2)

Fri, 14 Aug 2020 11:00:14 +0000

Part 2 of our discussion with Dave Nanian as we cover some specific differences in user experience between the Model S and the Taycan. Also, charging infrastructure and the future.

030: Dave Nanian Likes Battery-Powered Cars (Part 1 of 2)

Fri, 07 Aug 2020 11:00:14 +0000

Jeff and Mike host special guest Dave Nanian of Shirt Pocket software as Dave shares his electric vehicle story. We talk about Tesla Model S, BMW i3 and Porsche Taycan.

029: Portable Power Stations

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 11:00:19 +0000

Mike and Jeff break down a handful of 500 Watt portable power stations, discussing features and options and which one might be the best for you.

028: Finding Your Qi

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 11:00:12 +0000

Jeff and Mike close the gap on inductive charging.

027: Battery Recovery Mode

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 11:00:15 +0000

Jeff had some non-charging rechargeable batteries, buys some toys to diagnose the issues and has a surprising result. Mike changes a car battery.

026: Far Out Cool

Fri, 10 Jul 2020 11:00:08 +0000

Jeff and Mike discuss current battery events (pun intended).

025: It's Gonna Cost You

Fri, 03 Jul 2020 11:00:16 +0000

Mike and Jeff review a number of battery packs and talk about price per milliamp-hour (among other things).

024: 18 x 65

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 11:00:15 +0000

The 18650 battery is in more places than you know. Jeff and Mike explore this popular lithium-ion cell.

023: High Voltage AC/DC

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 11:00:12 +0000

Mike and Jeff talk about inverters and how they relate to batteries.

022: Best Light for Breakfast

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 11:00:15 +0000

Have you ever wondered what light temperature was ideal for when you're eating breakfast? Mike and Jeff didn't know this was a thing until this episode.

021: Nature's Generator

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 11:00:09 +0000

Special guest Gregory Adams from Nature's Generator joins Mike and Jeff to discuss their line of solar and wind powered generator/portable power centers.

020: Gravitricity

Fri, 29 May 2020 11:00:51 +0000

Mike and Jeff speak with Charlie Blair, Co-Founder and General Manager at Gravitricity, a novel energy storage solution company. All the way from Edinburgh!

019: Socket to Me, Mike!

Thu, 28 May 2020 11:00:34 +0000

Mike and Jeff explore things surrounding charging items in your car, and alternate between calling it an outlet and a socket. Which is your preference?

018: Deciwatt

Fri, 15 May 2020 11:00:10 +0000

Mike and Jeff speak with Shaun Pirie, Product Design Manager with Deciwatt (https://deciwatt.global) about their unique approach to product design and the sometimes extreme constraints under which their products must perform.

017: Grass, Interrupted

Fri, 08 May 2020 11:00:18 +0000

Mike and Jeff with some follow-ups to last week's episode. Batteries in the news. Battery powered lawn equipment and why Jeff needs to go shopping.

016: Forced to Consider the Potential of a Gravity Battery

Mon, 04 May 2020 14:12:57 +0000

Mike and Jeff get weighed down with the notion of the gravity battery and discuss their potential. Also, a brief batteries in the news segment.

015: Can Batteries Be (in) Any Cooler?

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 11:00:09 +0000

Batteries in the News. Mike has a vision, about a shed. We dedicate some air to battery powered cooling devices.

014: The Only Winning Move Is Not To Play

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 11:00:07 +0000

Mike and Jeff chat about eBikes and muse about what Tesla might be announcing next week.

013: Worst Alarm Clock Ever

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 11:00:14 +0000

Jeff and Mike offer up suggestions for how to properly dispose of your spent batteries, and they discover the Oxford Electric Bell. Also, batteries in the news.

012: Not Your Delivery Company

Fri, 03 Apr 2020 11:00:13 +0000

Mike and Jeff dig into Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) and why you might want to consider getting one if you don't already own one.

Episode 011: Not a Virus

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 11:00:16 +0000

Our apologies for a technical issue that resulted in us losing our recording for this week. We'll be back next week with a full show.

We dug into the following articles:

Thanks for your patience. Send us questions at: power@ilikebatteries.com

Episode 010: Scratching the Surface

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 11:00:12 +0000

Jeff and Mike continue their discussion of electric vehicles (EVs) and dig into lithium mining.

Episode 009: Leading the Charge

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 12:00:12 +0000

Mike and Jeff scratch the surface of battery-powered vehicles; including a little bit of history.

Episode 008: Goal Zero - Part Two

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 12:00:21 +0000

Mike and Jeff conclude their discussion with Bill Harmon from Goal Zero. What do you think about the future of batteries?

Episode 007: Goal Zero - Part One

Fri, 21 Feb 2020 23:54:37 +0000

Mike and Jeff speak with Bill Harmon, General Manager at Goal Zero, about their mission, their product line and the unusual way that the company was founded.

Episode 006: Don't Be the One to Close the Loop

Fri, 14 Feb 2020 12:00:12 +0000

Mike and Jeff close the loop on electricity and get their charge on. Congratulations to Ryan for answering our first ever trivia question!

Episode 005: Jeff Goes Skiing

Fri, 07 Feb 2020 12:00:13 +0000

Mike and Jeff discuss things that can stress out your battery, as well as the difference between state of charge and state of health. They also close the loop on the concepts for understanding electricity and batteries.

Episode 004: Jiggy Watts

Fri, 31 Jan 2020 13:14:41 +0000

Mike and Jeff tease apart power and energy and how it relates to battery capacity. Back to the Future trivia question.

Episode 003: Try to Contain Yourself

Fri, 24 Jan 2020 12:00:09 +0000

This week is all about containers (yes, that definition thing again). Jeff and Mike also follow up on "Why the 'I' in Ohm's Law"?

Episode 002: Set Your VCR

Fri, 17 Jan 2020 12:00:09 +0000

This week, Jeff and Mike give you a jolt of electricity and attempt to do some math.

Episode 001: Thank You, Ben Franklin

Sun, 12 Jan 2020 12:48:18 +0000

In this episode we define the battery for everyone and explore the history of batteries.