Batteries have reduced many a grown person to tears. Whether they're in your flashlight, Speak N Spell, laptop, or MP3 player, they always seem to be dead when you need them most. We can debate the pros and cons of other technological advances, but when it comes to batteries, everyone is in agreement that it's time for a better mousetrap.

A few new technologies, most available today, are worth looking at.

A USB/Battery Combo: The USBCELL battery can be recharged when you yank off its head to reveal a USB plug. Recharge the battery from your laptop or any other powered USB port. Snap the head back on and you're good to go. (About $19 for two batteries.)

No Pre-charging Required: Hybrio, a new rechargeable battery from Uniross, is—unlike most rechargeable batteries—ready to use right out of the package without charging it first. The manufacturer claims it'll last four times as long as a standard rechargeable battery. It'll retain its charge for months and is rechargeable up to 500 times. Two AA batteries are $13.

Sanyo also makes a ready-to-use rechargeable battery called Eneloop that is very similar to the Hybrio. Eneloop combines the long shelf life, low cost, and ready-to-use aspects of a traditional battery with a rechargeable solution.

Nokia Earth-Friendly Alerts: Nokia is about to roll out a line of phones that emit a beep and display the words "Battery is full please unplug the charger" once their batteries are fully charged. That means you'll be able to save energy. According to the company, this simple alert could save enough electricity to power 85,000 homes annually. The alerts will be introduced to the Nokia 1200, 1208, and 1650 handsets first.

External Batteries: External portable batteries like Big Wave Power's portable EnergyPORT can recharge your phone, pocket PC, PDA, MP3 player, portable gaming device, and Bluetooth headsets—any device that charges up to 9 volts. This unit is about the size of an iPod and can charge two devices simultaneously, one from the USB-based 5-volt port and another on the 9-volt FireWire-based port. Just make sure that you read the voltage on the device you're going to recharge and select the right booster from the included kit.

Future Speak

Today, over 15 billion batteries are made and thrown away each year, the equivalent of a column of batteries stretching to the moon and back. Those curious about batteries in the near term future can read LiveScience's reports on nuclear powered batteries and a battery that works off of a tiny gas turbine. And talk about a renewable energy source—they've even figured out a way to create a battery powered by urine.

Intrigued by the prospect of alternative battery power? At PESWiki, a wiki devoted to clean energy, you can fuel your knowledge.