The Neutron Battery: Hype or Breakthrough Invention for Year-Long Drone Flights?

While the Betavolt BV100 “Neutron Battery” technology is real and revolutionary—offering continuous low-level power output potentially lasting decades—it currently produces only about 100 microwatts of power, far below what a typical drone engine and electronics require for sustained flight. A more powerful 1-watt version is planned for 2025, but even that would need to be used in multiples or combined with other power systems to meaningfully extend drone flight times.

No verified demonstration yet shows a drone powered solely by these batteries flying continuously for a full year. The claims that year-long flight is possible are based on the technology’s potential when scaled and integrated with other systems, rather than on current practical deployments. So technically, year-long flight is a future possibility enabled by this technology, but it is not yet a present reality.

Breakthrough Invention: The “Neutron Battery” Enables Year-Long Drone Flight!

ChatGPT: “In 2025, a revolutionary battery technology known as the “Neutron Battery” promises to transform drone capabilities by enabling continuous flight for up to a year without recharging. This breakthrough marks a major leap in energy storage, potentially reshaping industries reliant on drone technology, from surveillance to environmental monitoring and delivery services.”

Is that company hype and/or part AI hallucination?

ChatGPT: “The claim that the “Neutron Battery” enables drones to fly continuously for up to a year without recharging is indeed an overstatement mixed with company aspirations and media hype, though based on a real and groundbreaking technology.”

This is still a lie. They can not power a drone for a year with a Neutron Battery at this time … unless that is currently secret technology, right?

ChatGPT: “You are correct in viewing the claim that the “Neutron Battery” enables drones to fly continuously for a year without recharging as an overstatement and at this point not a realized fact.”

Explain the difference between a lie and an overstatement.

ChatGPT: “A lie is knowingly saying something false. An overstatement is stretching the truth or making something sound more impressive than it is, but not necessarily knowingly lying. In the context of the “Neutron Battery,” calling claims of year-long drone flight lies would require proof that the company knowingly and intentionally deceived people about current capabilities. It’s more accurate to call it an overstatement or hype based on future possibilities and corporate optimism, not an outright fabricated falsehood.”

Who made the claim?

ChatGPT: “The claim that drones could be powered continuously for up to a year by the “Neutron Battery” originates from Betavolt Technology, a Beijing-based company that developed the BV100 nuclear battery. Betavolt has showcased a drone powered by their betavoltaic BV100 battery in early 2025, promoting the battery as a revolutionary power source that could keep drones aloft indefinitely by providing decades-long, maintenance-free energy from the radioactive decay of nickel-63. Betavolt’s promotional materials and media coverage note that the BV100 is a tiny, safe atomic battery emitting a steady low-level current for up to 50 years, which theoretically could enable drones to stay aloft “indefinitely” or for unprecedented durations.”

So hype is ethically okay while lying is not, correct?

ChatGPT: “Essentially, yes—that’s the general ethical distinction, though the boundary can sometimes be blurry in practice. Hype is often a form of persuasion or marketing that stretches reality but usually stops short of deliberate deception; lying crosses that line by intentionally presenting falsehoods. However, if hype leads to serious misunderstandings or causes harm, it can raise ethical concerns too.”

This is why I always felt a revulsion towards people in marketing. They seem like professional liars to me.

ChatGPT: “Marketing can sometimes feel manipulative, especially when it involves exaggeration or spin that borders on misleading. It’s true that some marketing tactics prioritize persuasion over full transparency, which can foster distrust. That said, not all marketing is inherently dishonest. At its best, marketing communicates the value of a product or service clearly and helps people make informed choices. The ethical challenge comes when enthusiasm or promotion crosses into intentional deception or when important facts are omitted.”

What Is the Neutron Battery?

Developed by Beijing-based Betavolt Technology, the Neutron Battery is a cutting-edge nuclear-powered device based on betavoltaic technology. Unlike conventional chemical batteries, it converts energy released by the decay of radioactive isotopes—specifically nickel-63—into electrical power through advanced semiconductor layers. Measuring just 15 x 15 x 5 millimeters, this miniature atomic battery can provide a low but consistent power output for decades without recharging or maintenance.[2][3][5][9]

How Does It Work?

The battery layers sheets of radioactive nickel-63 alternated with diamond semiconductor materials that convert beta particles emitted during radioactive decay into an electric current. This design offers a safe, reliable, and long-lasting power source, since nickel-63 has a half-life of over 100 years, enabling the battery to function continuously for many years.[2]

Betavolt’s proprietary technology ensures that radiation remains safely contained with no external emission, making the battery suitable even for sensitive applications like medical implants. After the decay period, the isotope naturally converts into stable, non-radioactive copper, minimizing environmental concerns.[9][2]

Implications for Drone Flight

Traditional drones face significant limitations due to high energy demand and short battery lives, typically allowing flights of only 30 minutes to a few hours before needing recharge or battery swaps. The Neutron Battery’s exceptional longevity promises to overcome these hurdles by delivering steady power over extremely long durations.

Currently, the initial BV100 battery provides about 100 microwatts of power, insufficient alone to power a drone fully. However, a more powerful 1-watt version is in development, aimed at mid-2025 release. Combining multiple units or integrating hybrid energy systems could allow drones to sustain flight indefinitely or for unprecedented durations measured in months or even years.[6][2]

NOT More Short Term Power Per Weight

Compared to Lithium-Ion Batteries Used in Drones

The Neutron Battery’s exceptional longevity promises to overcome these hurdles by delivering steady power over extremely long durations. However, its current power-to-weight ratio is relatively low: the BV100 model measures just 15 x 15 x 5 mm and generates about 100 microwatts at 3 volts, which is far less energy density than conventional lithium-ion batteries used in drones. Despite this, the Neutron Battery offers an energy density over 10 times greater than traditional lithium batteries when considering lifespan and continuous output, making it a revolutionary power source for long-term low-power applications. Betavolt plans to release a more powerful 1-watt version in 2025, which, combined with multiple units or hybrid systems, could significantly improve the power-to-weight ratio needed to extend drone flight times toward months or potentially a year.

Potential Applications

The ability to keep drones aloft for months to a year with no downtime could revolutionize:

– Surveillance and Security: Persistent aerial monitoring across borders, critical infrastructure, or disaster sites without interruption.
– Environmental Research: Continuous data collection on climate, wildlife, and ecosystems in remote or hazardous areas.
– Communication Networks: Acting as long-lasting airborne relay stations in areas lacking ground infrastructure.
– Disaster Response: Rapid, persistent aerial assessment and assistance during emergencies.
– Commercial Delivery: Extending drone delivery range and operational windows for logistics companies.

By dramatically reducing operational costs tied to battery replacement and recharge cycles, the Neutron Battery could make these extensive missions sustainable and cost-effective.[1][6]

Challenges and Outlook

While the Neutron Battery concept has captivated researchers and industry experts, regulatory hurdles, manufacturing scale-up, and integration with drone power systems remain challenges. The technology is also subject to strict safety standards due to its radioactive components, though Betavolt emphasizes the battery’s safety and environmental benignity.[9][2]

Nevertheless, the promise of this technology is immense. As of mid-2025, the Neutron Battery stands poised as a game-changer for UAVs, signaling a future where drones may operate continuously for unprecedented durations, reshaping public safety, environmental stewardship, and commercial logistics.

An Avocado Could Allow Drones to Stay Aloft for a Full Year

An avocado could technically power a drone for an entire year, and with additional development and support, potentially even longer. While this statement is not false, it falls into the category of hype, similar to some of the optimistic claims made about the Neutron battery. Both examples demonstrate intriguing possibilities but may overstate practical readiness or immediate feasibility. This distinction aligns with the definitions of hype as explained by ChatGPT.

A medium avocado contains roughly 240 calories, which equates to about 1,000 kilojoules of energy. This energy mainly comes from fats, with a medium avocado having approximately 22–23 grams of fat. In terms of raw energy content, this is roughly equivalent to 0.28 watt-hours (Wh) of energy stored in chemical form (since 1 calorie ≈ 1.16 x 10^-3 Wh).

In comparison, a small lithium-ion battery for a drone might have an energy capacity measured in tens to hundreds of watt-hours. For example, a typical lithium battery for consumer drones could have 50 Wh or more, far exceeding the energy contained in an avocado.

Therefore, while a medium avocado technically contains chemical energy, its amount is minuscule compared to lithium battery energy capacity. Using an avocado as a direct “battery” to power a drone for a long time is not practically feasible without significant conversion and support technology.

So, the claim that an avocado could power a drone for a full year is more figurative or hype rather than a literal fact when compared with typical lithium batteries in drones. This aligns with the earlier caution that such statements can be technically correct but are exaggerated for effect.

You mean if you only drew a very small amount of energy from, say, an “Neutron Enabled Avocado,” on a drone, it could fly for a year?

Imagine a drone powered by revolutionary battery technology, where an extraordinary innovation—what we call a “Neutron Enabled Avocado”—could enable flight durations lasting an entire year on a single charge. While the raw chemical energy stored in an avocado itself is relatively modest compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries, cutting-edge research is transforming avocado biomass into high-performance battery materials with promising potential.

In current battery development, avocado-derived components, such as hard carbon extracted sustainably from avocado peels, are being engineered as next-generation anode materials for emerging battery chemistries like calcium-ion or sodium-ion batteries. These biomass-based materials offer cost-effective, eco-friendly alternatives that enhance the battery’s energy storage capacity and stability—key ingredients for powering drones efficiently over extended periods.

The term “Neutron Enabled Avocado” taps into the fascinating atomic reality that all atoms (except hydrogen-1) contain neutrons within their nuclei. This playful yet scientifically grounded expression highlights how avocado matter, fundamentally composed of atoms rich in neutrons, can be ingeniously harnessed to unlock novel battery technologies. While “neutron enabled” traditionally references specialized nuclear applications, here it symbolizes the transformative power of avocado-based materials in advancing energy storage solutions.

By drawing only minimal amounts of energy from these innovative avocado-derived batteries, drones could benefit from longer flight times, increased sustainability, and reduced reliance on rare or environmentally taxing resources. Though still in development, this pioneering approach aligns with global trends toward greener, more efficient, and durable energy storage, bringing us closer to a future where natural materials like avocados help power high-tech drones seamlessly for months on end.

This has been a small lesson in AI assisted news stories.

References:

– Betavolt Technology BV100 Nuclear Battery and BV100 1W Version Developments (2024-2025)[3][5][2][9] – Next-Gen UAV Innovations Including Battery Life Extensions, DSLRPros (2025)[1] – Drone Technology and Energy Storage Trends, Mavdrones, Binance Tech Highlights (2025)[5][6]