Electrifying news, good to hear as my '04 battery dates from '03, and is not covered in my gold + extended warranty. I think batteries even when not used too much sit there and eat their insides away. One hint of weakness and I replace them, rather than get caught and wish I had done it sooner.

A previous thread on batteries contains comments about the colors, black and white, the color depends on what is available at the time. These are supplied by contractors and depending who had won a contract the colors could be different. The makers would not specify the color, just the specs and award the contract on the basis of price and availability. OEM batteries are normally not the longest lived ones, just past any warranty is good enough. As usual it is all about $$$, and why not, a penny saved is a penny earned.