HP (NYSE:HPQ)(Nasdaq:HPQ) and Sony today issued the following joint statement:
HP has worked with Sony to review Sony battery cells used in HP notebooks.
Based on this review, the companies are confident that because of HP’s PC system configuration, HP notebooks using Sony battery cells are not prone to overheating issues that have recently been observed.
HP and Sony have studied and agreed that there are currently no safety issues with regard to HP battery packs using 2.4Ah or 2.6Ah Sony cells, although no battery is immune to failure or overheating. As a result, HP determined that it is not necessary for HP to join the global battery replacement program that Sony has announced to address end-user concern related to recent overheating incidents.
To date, HP has received no reports of overheating in any HP notebook using Sony cells currently included in the global replacement program announced by Sony on Sept. 28, 2006.
Commenting on the statement, Ted Clark, senior vice president and general manager of the Notebook Business Unit at HP, said: “Customer service and safety are a top priority for HP. After discussing the issues with Sony, we believe that we have the proper charging and circuit protections in place to prevent an overheating episode. While no battery is immune to failure or overheating, battery solutions provided by HP are unique and are designed with a number of HP engineered safety features that are in addition to what is typical in the industry.”
To minimize risk and help ensure long-term battery performance, battery cells are carefully selected and are stringently tested. HP battery packs are robustly constructed, include multiple redundant safety circuits, and are individually tested both stand-alone and in the system before reaching the customer. Charging technologies strictly adhere to cell manufacturer recommendations so as not to exceed safe maximum charging rates.
About HP
HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company’s offerings span IT infrastructure, global services, business and home computing, and imaging and printing. For the four fiscal quarters ended July 31, 2006, HP revenue totaled $90.0 billion. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com.
