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Laptop Fuel Cells Approved For Air Carriage

Posted by timothy on from the how-much-will-refills-cost dept.

gilgsn writes "According to reports in BusinessWeek, the US Department of Transportation has ruled that a new fuel cell developed by US company Polyfuel can be taken on airplanes. The announcement clears the way for the commercialisation of fuel cells as an alternative to batteries in notebook computers. The use of direct methanol fuel cells on aeroplanes has been questioned as they contain methanol, which is flammable. According to Jim Balcom, Polyfuel's CEO, the US DOT said that a fuel cell designed by his company could be taken into aircraft cabins when it goes on sale because it contains a relatively low concentration of methanol. Fuel cells are viewed as a promising power source in notebook comptuers as they are instantly refuellable (using fuel cartridges) and will power laptops two to three times longer than standard batteries. Full Story." This will be more exciting news when the fuel cells are actually available.

3 of 247 comments (clear)

  1. Bush loves Methaol just as much as oil.... by cbuskirk · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Actually Bush is more that thrilled to force any form of Methanol powered device down on us. All those states out there with too much corn money and too many electoral votes have the White House in thier pockets. Currently Bush is trying to punish California by making us add Methanol to our Gasoline to improve emmisions, despite the fact that the gasoline sold in California is alreay below federal limits without any additives. It is just another stupid revenue stream for the good ol' boys.

  2. Most people dont realize by dcstimm · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Most People dont realize what bad people could make into weapons. For example, Go to the gift shop at the Air Port, buy a disposable camera, open it up and there is a large capasitor being powered by a AA battery. If you touch the wrong part on the curcuit board you can get a pretty nasty shock. Im sure someone could use that to take down a plane. Or modify a camera and install a larger capasitor that would do more harm. Stick that to someones neck and they will be in alot of pain. Sorry to sound evil, but its scary on what normal things can be turned into weapons. So I can see why they can be leary about Computer batteries.

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    keanmarine.com
  3. Has anyone tried Green??? by i8a4re · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    There have been several mentions of using a red or infrared laser to blind cameras. Has anyone tried the green laser pointers now available?

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    If I drive fast enough at the red light, it'll appear green.