Most cellphone batteries consist of 1, 2 or maybe at most 3 cells, not much of matching is required here. I also don't think Toyota does anything above maybe some basic sorting. As far as I remember reading it, they had to increase quality of the cells with tighter tolerances across production line with more consistent level of reliability. Just one broken cell can disable whole module and one non working module would fail the whole battery pack. the differences in capacity between cells is taken care of by running the pack within 50%-80% full charge. This means that even if the packs are not well matched, at full load some cells could be actually reaching 95% some only 65% but still within operating range, where no damaging overcharging and out gassing should occur. The same goes for low end of charge: at 50% some cells could be at 30% some at 55% but no cell should go bellow minimum voltage and be damaged by reverse polarity charge.
Typical satellite cost about 50-100 million dollars, cost another 20-50 million to launch, has to operate at temperatures close to absolute zero for 5-10 years, be exposed to heavy radiation and usually is one of a kind with no chance of being repaired. Hardly a comparison to mass produced $30k car.

IMHO, cost isn't the relevant immediate comparison. I think it goes beyond the "If they can put a man on the moon they...." As someone who watched our space program with wonder and awe from inception to yesterday's shuttle, landing...I can't even begin to catalog the now affordable wonders we all enjoy everyday that had their origins in technology developed for for the space program. The laptop I write on now or Tang for example.

Silver Shadow

"Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts."

Cellphones have LiIon batterries, TCH have NiMH. How could you compare?

perhaps he's wondering if the same can be applied to Li-Ion and I think Pete said it doesn't apply?

Mods: EV mod, VVT-i emblem, sport pedals, OEM cargo mat, JDM Prius interior footwell lighting, Sylvania Silverstars 9003ST, DICE iPod kit, OEM all-weather mats, TomTom ONE v2, LED licence plate lights.

And I said the same thing in the and my first reply, in the Reader's Digest condensed version. You extend the life of a Li-Ion battery by topping it off frequently.

"When you get to the fork in the road, take it." --Yogi Berra

The jist of what I was saying is quality level.

Since most people don't want to pay $1.00 for a cell phone, manufactures aren't going to put in quality batteries.

They also realize that most people are going to lose, drop in the toilet, or buy a new cell phone in a couple years. Putting in a battery pack that will last 5 years isn't worth it.

On the other hand, most people want their TCH to last 10 years. And Toyota warranties most of them for 10 years. They are going to go the extra mile to put in a higher quality battery.

OK change in topic title.
Chan I make my laptop battery last forever?

It's a NMHi, same as the TCH, and I paid a LOT more than $1 for it and I do want it to last forever.
Rewind: Can keeping the battery charged approx in the 25% - 75% extend it's life?

Is this an old laptop? I thought almost all laptops for a LONG time were Lithium.

If it is NiMH, then yes keeping it from getting discharged all the way will help keep it alive longer. Deep discharging is the worst. Cells start getting "reversed" and this damages them.

OK it's really a digital camera or is it a digicam or maybe a radio controlled airplane or boat or whatever. Just an expensive device that uses expensive NiMh battery packs take your pick.

Is this an old laptop? I thought almost all laptops for a LONG time were Lithium.

If it is NiMH, then yes keeping it from getting discharged all the way will help keep it alive longer. Deep discharging is the worst. Cells start getting "reversed" and this damages them.

I answered your question in my second paragraph. I wanted to make sure you had NiMH batteries - otherwise my answer doesn't do you much good.