Only one electric connection exists between the West Texas town of Presidio and the US national power grid – it was created back in 1948, and frequently fails, throwing the whole town into darkness.

Well, Presidio found a fix that’s as epic as it is ingenious – buy a huge battery. The biggest in the United States, actually – Presidio purchased the humongous sodium sulfur battery for the princely sum of $25 million dollars, and has earned the local nickname of “BOB” (for “Big Ol’ Battery”).

The battery can store up to four megawatts and can run the town by itself for about eight hours, which is just enough time to fix the town’s only external transmission line.

Before BOB showed up, the town would have to pull energy from Mexico – the new battery should allay such needs, as well as providing the pretty cool national landmark that is “Nation’s Biggest Battery.”

Source & Photo Source: PopSci

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How? Some revolutionary new science involving “a stabilization process of the battery’s electrodes, which in-turn puts less stress on the battery’s tin.” I always thought if you could stabilize the electrodes you’d get less tin stress!

This process his “maintains the bonding of particles for a longer period of time,” which in turn, allows your rechargeable battery to last ten times longer than those currently on store shelves.

Eamax feels this is big news for heavy-duty batteries, such as those that are used to power electric vehicles. Plus, eventually the tech will help extend the lives of smaller appliances like smartphones or laptops.

Think about it: one pair of double A’s could be with you longer than most of your girlfriends! Or, for some of you, one pair of double A’s could power most of your girlfriends!

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