I read recently that Fluidic Energy is working on a new energy cell technology that uses metal-air ionic liquid (MAIL). Another battery technology? This one is interesting because it promises to potentially extend the battery life of portable devices by a factor of 11 when compared to existing lithium-ion batteries.

The secret: it uses an ionic liquid salt to conduct electricity. The technology results in a more stable power source that isn’t prone to drying out.

One of the portable HD Radio challenges has been the power consumption, which has recently been addressed. Add MAIL cells and the portable device has an even longer playing time.

It’s not certain when the technology will be ready for consumer use.