New Motorola Smartphones Tout Turbopower Fast-Charging Feature

New low-cost smartphones from Motorola will boast a feature called Turbopower, which is claimed to make them the world's fastest-charging smartphones. Smartphones with Turbopower can run for 10 hours on a 15-minute charge, Motorola said. Motorola demonstrated Turbopower at a London event where finding anyone who could explain how the technology works, without risk of damage to the lithium-ion batteries or the risk of fire, proved difficult. To use the Turbopower feature requires purchase of an extra charger with a standard micro USB plug, but stepped DC output. Step 1 sends the normal 5 volts to the phone, but at high current (2.85 amps). Step 2, called Turbo 1, sends 9 volts (also at 2.85 amps), and Step 3, called Turbo 2, sends 12 volts at 2.15 amps. When connected to a conventional phone, the charger defaults to safe 5-volt operation. When connected to a new Moto X Style or X Play phone, the charger handshakes with the phone through the USB data wires and sends 12 volts. After partial charging is complete, the chargers steps down to 9 volts. Moto X Play will be available at the end of August, while Moto X Style will follow later in the year. Details of availability and pricing for the accessory Turbopower chargers weren't available.