A test of NiMH rechargeable cells purchased in 2014 but never used shows surprisingly good results after 12 years of storage. Three of four pre-charged cells retained voltage and recovered to their rated 2,000 mAh capacity on the first charge cycle. A fourth cell that read 0V was revived using a bench power supply. After a few charge-discharge cycles, only the deeply discharged cell showed slight capacity degradation, while all cells measured healthy internal resistance. The results highlight that NiMH quality varies significantly by brand, and that the chemistry is robust enough to warrant revival attempts before discarding old cells.
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