Li-on Batteries Update: LG Chem fire loses Asus Eee PC sales

Back in March we reported that a South Korea fire at LG Chem had caused a laptop battery shortage, this was already affecting Asus, HP and Dell. Today we are hearing that Li-on Batteries will be back to normal supply by Q3 of this year, although the fire could not come at a worse time because the demand for laptops has soared this year. It was only a few years ago that I tried to buy a laptop that could play games, there was no real choice but today many laptops are as powerful as desktop computers and gaming is easily achieved on the move.

Why do you want a big bulky computer when you can have a nice smaller, more portable computer in the form of a laptop? This is why the Asus Eee PC has become so popular, as it has price and portability just right. The CEO of Asus, Jerry Shen, said that the Eee PCs could have sold a lot more than the 5 million units they achieved if there was not a shortage in supply of batteries.

Sung Fu-hsang, chairman of Simplo (world’s largest independent notebook battery maker), said on Friday that “The LG Chem problem has had a big impact on supplies, but we’re working with customers and they understand”.

The real problem will be for the smaller companies that make laptops, as the big companies will be looked after first.

Have you been affected by the laptop battery shortage?

Source: Read