My survival kit now contains more than just the basics and it’s inevitable that for some emergency gear like flashlights, GPS etc, you need power. As well as a small Powerfilm solar panel, I also need batteries.
I first saw the Nopopo (NO POlution POwer) batteries a couple of years ago but had not seen them anywhere to buy till recently. I ordered a packet of 4 AA batteries for ??12 and they arrived individually wrapped in a packet with a tiny fluid injector.
They are not dry cell batteries, you inject 1ml of water which acts as a catalyst and it generates 1.5V of electricity in each cell.
As these are to be used for emergency backup, the main feature for me is that if the batteries are stored in the original packaging and away from humidity, they have a shelf life of an amazing 20 years. Dry cell batteries only normally manage 5 to 7 years.
The company states the batteries can also be charged with beer, sake, coke, or even urine. I don’t exactly envision me injecting the batteries with the 1ml of wee, but it’s handy to know that if stranded in the desert without water, I can at least activate these cells in order to power a radio as I dehydrate to death. Although I guess if that radio enables me to coordinate a rescue then it’s well worth getting wee on my hands.
