Ontario Tech University researcher Jonathan Couture with a Panasonic carbon zinc double-A battery that performed poorly in the tests. Given their likely use in other devices, the researchers also tested the carbon zinc batteries in the simulated high-drain tests. Though the batteries are recommended only for certain devices that don't require a lot of power, many Canadians told Marketplace they don't notice those suggestions on the battery packs.

There's no reason to sell a zinc carbon system in 2022.' Steingart, who has run tests similar to Marketplace's, said: 'I couldn't find a single use case where the zinc carbon outperformed in any way the alkaline cells…. Dan Steingart, Columbia UniversityĪlso known as dry cells, 'super heavy duty' carbon zinc batteries are based on a dated technology from the 19th century, and typically marketed as a cost-effective option for use in low-drain devices like TV remote controls or wall-mounted clocks. I remember my grandfather being like, 'You know, make sure you buy the super heavy duty one as opposed to the light wimpy one,' right? It significantly affected an entire generation of battery consumers.' There's no reason to sell a zinc carbon system in 2022. 'The jargon around that term dates back to the seventies and it worked. 'It's incredibly confusing,' according to Columbia University engineering associate professor Dan Steingart, who studies the capacity and energy efficiency of disposable batteries. The medium drain is similar to continuous use of a remote-controlled toy or gaming controller, while high drain is like a high-powered flashlight.ĭespite the E-Circuit and Panasonic carbon zinc being branded as 'Super Heavy Duty,' they were anything but, according to experts. They said the low-level drain is similar to the continuous use of a computer mouse or TV remote control. The researchers used the different drain scenarios - low, medium and high - to simulate real-life uses. But it was E-Circuit alkaline, a brand imported by and sold at Dollar Tree, that held its own against the more well-known brands, lasting nearly as long and costing only $1.25 for a pack of four. In the tests, which simulated different energy drain levels, Energizer and Duracell lasted the longest. The brands tested were Energizer, Duracell, Canadian Tire's Noma, Walmart's Great Value, E-Circuit from Dollar Tree, as well as Panasonic batteries from both Dollarama and Dollar Tree. Marketplace, teaming with researchers from Ontario Tech University in Oshawa, Ont., tested 240 double-A disposable batteries from six brands.

Watch the full Marketplace investigation on CBC Gem.

A CBC Marketplace test of double-A disposable batteries found that while major brand names deliver on their marketing promise to be long-lasting, batteries bought at two leading dollar stores did surprisingly well and provide good value for cost-conscious shoppers.īut the test also found that not all dollar store batteries are created equally and certain types of batteries did not perform well, with experts warning that they should be avoided despite their low cost.

Double a battery