The non-removable battery is of the lithium polymer (Li-poly) variety, as opposed to the more frequently used lithium ion.

ENGADGET: Motorola Atrix HD review Mobile

With all the electronic devices in our lives these days, it makes environmental (and financial) sense to switch to rechargeable nickel metal hydride (NiMH) and lithium ion (Li-Ion) batteries.

CNN: The dirty dozen: 12 products you should avoid

The battery cells were fabricated by adapting a process developed by another team at the university which is designed to make it faster to recharge the batteries than lithium ion (Li-on) and nickel metal hydride (NiMH) equivalents.

BBC: Super-powered battery breakthrough claimed by US team

To be technical they have moved from nickel cadmium (NiCad), through nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) to lithium-ion (Li-ion).

FORBES: Running in place

The lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries that power the iPad and virtually all other mobile devices are still based on a chemistry from the early 1990s.

FORBES: Battery Chemistry Is Getting In The Way Of Apple's Vision

LEAF's 24 kWh lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery is comprised of 48 compact modules of four cells each (192 cells total), which allows a high degree of packaging flexibility.

ENGADGET: Nissan starts US production of 2013 Leaf, vows faster charging and a lower entry price

As of 2010, 98% of EVs used Li-ion batteries, and come 2017, 100% will use Lithium-ion, according to Strategic Analytics.

FORBES: Tesla Debacle Highlights Need For New EV Battery Technology