Summary
In the run up to Christmas, many parents will be checking on their battery supplies ahead of Santa bringing gifts that require them. But do branded batteries, that promise more power and longer life at a higher price point, really deliver it?
Listener Peter got in touch asking just that, as well as whether batteries have an expiry date?
Greg Foot recruits some year 7 pupils and their teacher to help him perform a test to find out, and speaks to one of the country’s leading scientists about what gives a battery more power, or helps it store more energy.
You can also hear more about the difference between single use, and rechargeable batteries in our longer podcast episode on BBC Sounds.
This series, we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or you can send us a voice note to our new WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.
PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Kate Holdsworth
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello, podcast fan. |
| 0:03.0 | Consider this your invite to the UK's biggest podcasting party. |
| 0:06.7 | We're heading to Sheffield from the 4th to the 6th of July |
| 0:09.0 | for the BBC Sounds Fringe at the Crossed Wires Festival. |
| 0:12.8 | We'll be joined by some of the biggest names in podcasting, |
| 0:15.3 | including Sarah Cox, Charlie Hedges, Russell Kane, |
| 0:18.4 | and some bloke called Greg James doing his Radio 4 show called Rewinder. |
| 0:23.2 | You can watch live shows of your favourite podcasts, and the best part is free. |
| 0:28.0 | To book your free tickets, go to crossedwires. Live, forward slash fringe. |
| 0:34.4 | BBC Sounds, music, Radio, podcasts. |
| 0:39.9 | Hello, I'm Greg Foote and welcome to the show that investigates your suggested wonder products. |
| 0:45.4 | Are they the best thing since sliced bread or marketing BS? |
| 0:49.7 | Today's topic was sent in on a WhatsApp voice note by Peter Connolly from Berwick-upon-Tweed. |
| 0:55.0 | Hi Greg. Every year I see battery adverts telling us how much more powerful or longer-lasting this year's battery is compared to last years. |
| 1:03.0 | And I wonder, is that actually true? |
| 1:05.0 | Whoa! Did you feel that? That'll be Duracell Optimum. |
| 1:10.0 | Our most powerful alkaline battery ever! |
| 1:12.6 | Duracell Optimum! |
| 1:13.6 | Our next generation of power! |
| 1:15.6 | How can one battery be more powerful than another battery? |
| 1:18.6 | I've never noticed any differences when using them. |
| 1:20.6 | And these brands telling us how good their batteries are. |
... |
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