Have you ever tried to start your car in the morning and discovered you had a dead battery? Discouraging, wasn't it?
This left you with several choices - none very good. You could find a neighbor with a pair of battery cables and a car or you could call your friendly garage and wait for their arrival to get your car started.
Now technology comes to the rescue of dead batteries.
A breakthrough technology called thin metal film (TMF), developed by Bolder Technologies Corp., produces more power than any other rechargeable battery on the market. The technology has made possible a new product, SecureStart instant engine starter, that restarts engines in seconds but weighs less than five pounds.
SecureStart lets drivers restart engines by attaching a built-in cable to the dead battery - no need for another car and help from strangers. SecureStart's power comes from six TMF cells that look much like D cells for flashlights, but deliver ultrahigh power.
The device works in cold temperatures, when batteries are most likely to fail, and stays charged up for up to a year. It can be recharged in as little as five minutes. It is, according to its maker, capable of starting gas-powered engines, including cars with the biggest V-8 engines, sport utility vehicles, motorcycles, boats, snowmobiles, jet skies, lawn mowers, tractors, even small planes.
TMF technology is a breakthrough with huge potential, according to Daniel S. Lankford, chairman and CEO of Boulder Technologies.
SecureStart instant engine starter has a high-intensity light to see in the dark and inside vehicles, and an audible alert, a beep that sounds when it is time to recharge the unit.
The device is scheduled to go on sale nationwide this fall at Sears stores at a price range of $100 to $149.
The TMF technology behind SecureStart was recognized as one of the 'Top 25 Winning Technologies' by Industry Week magazine in 1998.
Thin metal film technology, in basic terms, refers to an extremely thin layer of lead foil, precision coated with lead oxide and wound tightly, much like a jelly roll to form the cell. This spiral configuration achieves the maximum amount of surface area in the smallest volume possible - so maximum power is released by the cell.
Mr. Lankford claims SecureStart is only the beginning for TMF technology. 'TMF technology could in the future replace the battery in the car, instead of the heavy batteries now in use,' he said. He said other potential uses include power for portable tools and standby power along with medical and industrial applications.
I haven't tested one, but if the product works like promised, it should be a must in every car.
