Toshiba To Show Laptop Fuel Cells at CeBit

war3rd writes "According to The Register, Toshiba has finally been able to build a fuel cell for laptops that they will unveil at CeBit next week. The fuel cells are expected to last approximately 5 hours and are compatible with existing lithium-ion batteries. Form factor remains the only issue. The trick is that they use the water by-product from the cell to dilute the methanol source as it enters the reformer, and are therefore able to store higher concentrations of methanol in the cell. My only concern is how quickly can they get this to market?"

Comments

Well, there goes the neighborhood

[drblunt]

Does this mean you won't be able to take your laptop on the airplane with the fuel-cell battery? Nothing like having a lap full of methanol to freak people out.

Doc

First Legitimate Post

[ShadowDrake]

"Runs for 5 hours" under what circumstances and configuration? I'll be downright impressed if they can get five hours out of a desktop PIV running full-blast, and running those drives full-time and the 802.11 won't help. I'd be impressed if the 'smart' battery/fuel cell realy was. My "10% low battery alarm" means anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes on a 2:30 or so charge life.

Um, what's the point?

[Visigothe]

As others have pointed out, 5 hours on a laptop is *nothing* The batteries on my iBook do that just fine. Sure it takes me a couple of hours to fully recharge, but that's what a second battery is for, should I need one. Also, I don't have to refill, nor throw away spent fuel cells. It sounds like manually refueling would be a pain in the arse [for a laptop]. Vehicles using fuel cells sound much more interesting

What would be interesting would be a fuel cell laptop that got maybe 24 hours on a "charge".

This just seems like gadgetry for its own sake

.

Ultracapacitors?

[Cutie Pi]

Why don't we here more about ultracapacitors:

http://www.maxwell.com/ultracapacitors/ According to the above page, ultracapacitors "deliver up to 10 times the power, last up to 10 times as long, operate more reliably in high- and low-temperature conditions, require far less maintenance and reduce environmental issues associated with battery disposal" compared to batteries. I recently read about a hybrid automobile that will be using ultracaps (don't remember who). It seems like these could be implemented in laptops and cell phones.

Re:Usefulness?

[dbrutus]

You can carry around a bunch of $2 refill packs and not need to be attached to a generator out in the middle of nowhere. Now there's convenience. You can also recharge your power source in a minute or two.

This is important for other uses like a prospective Segway using these things. Right now you run out of juice, it's time to get tethered to a wall socket but with this you just fill it up and go further.

Tired of the Airline Regulations argument

[nonoriginal]

So, what makes carrying a small AA battery-sized container of methanol any different than carrying a butane lighter onto an airplane? I don't see one. Not to mention all the other flammable products carried in small quantities on airplanes in cosmetics and toiletries.

As for the waste/disposal issue, the reason fuel cells are considered advantageous is that both production and disposal is cleaner, not containing toxic chemical compounds. The cartridges could easily be recycled into new cartridges...maybe even someday like inkjet printer cartridges.

As for the runtime on a single charge, that is certain to improve over time. The point is that they get new technology in the marketplace.

Why I can't wait for small fuel cells...

[cr0sh]

I am currently in the process of building a recumbent electric vehicle from bicycle frames (I basically have everything done, still need to get the foot rests in place, and the drive system in) - I have designed it to use four 12V gel-cell batteries (ie, the 7AH powercell kind), or possibly even glassmat if I can get them cheap enough. However, the things are heavy. I would love to have a fuel cell that I could easily "fill up" with common fuels (gasoline, methanol, ethenol, butane, propane - I don't care).

BTW, before anyone questions "why don't I use a go-ped like engine" - noise is the main reason, laws are another (as in legal grey area).