rscheffler wrote:
Regarding the VMLs... any plans to eventually upgrade the battery to LiFePO4?
For some background, I bought a couple VMLs along with a couple extra batteries, in part due to the hassle and extra cost of having them shipped to Canada. But now to realize that they may only last a few years is a bit of a disappointment, as they're not something I use all the time, but rather are intended for those on-location situations where it's difficult to find electrical outlets. Essentially more for backup than regular use. Seems LiFePO4 would be better suited to this.
That said, I still really like the VMLs, especially for the size and power (can run my Quadras for hours on end connected via the charger - significantly outlasting the SLAs if they were used on their own).
LiFePO4 batteries have somewhat less power density and more expensive than the NMC batteries used in VML (as well as laptops, cell phones, cameras, etc.)
This means a complete redesign of the VML would be required in order to achieve the same performance as the present VML. And it would be larger, heavier and cost more. So it's more likely this might occur in a future product. Development of a product typically takes a year or more.