Most people would agree: we’ve come a long way since the 18th century. We’re always connected through smartphones, we can send messages instantly with email, and we’ve even got recyclable batteries! But our technological developments didn’t appear out of thin air —practices in use today stem from the seemingly primitive machinery of days past.

The below infographic showcases the evolution of the battery, from the earliest, most rudimentary technology to the World’s First AA battery made with 4% recycled batteries, Energizer_® EcoAdvanced_TM. At the dawn of battery power, they were nothing more than copper zinc disk stacks and cardboard disks. It wasn’t until 1836 that batteries started to power technology like telephones and doorbells, expanding their use into all kinds of devices, from cell phones to watches. We’ve come a long way. Read on to find out how.

While charging your phone at night may not seem ingenious, it is built on centuries of innovation, invention, and a lot of trial and error. Throughout the years, and now with Energizer_® EcoAdvanced_TM batteries have worked to make the impossible possible, adding to the World’s First and improving the way we consume energy. Now, it’s ushered in a new era of recyclable technology that powers our world without damaging it. Here’s to a brighter future.

Nandita Raghuram is a freelance journalist living in Brooklyn.

This post is a sponsored collaboration between Energizer and Studio@Gawker.