Make sure to not let the batteries go all the way down until they are “dead”. This tends to damage the batteries, especially when done repeatedly.
So it is best to charge them daily from the start and the batteries still need to be changed after 500 battery charge cycles, but in reality, most have to change the batteries at least yearly.
The only ones used in the Siemens and Hansaton rechargeable are the Power One cells, which are the best right now, but still vulnerable if you discharge all the way down.