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DoCoMo Will Launch Fuel-Cell Mobile Phones By 2005

Posted by timothy on from the sooner-rather-than-later dept.

prostoalex writes "Japan's major telecom provider NTT DoCoMo plans to use fuel cells for its 3G phones. 'Users of cellphones with a fuel-cell battery would carry a cigarette lighter-type fuel container to refuel the battery', says Reuters."

170 comments

  1. For the user to? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Will that fuel also be compatible with the user? For internal use that is... ;-)

  2. Wow by Zeromous · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ..just another way my cell-phone company can rape my wallet. propietary fuel cells....yay

    --
    ---Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A START
    1. Re:Wow by rkz · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      just like 3G! what a fucking rip off, bluetooth area networks all the way I set one up around my house for 100m, so pda users can get their daily dose of goatse and it allows me to browse the net off my phone while I'm at neighbours houses.. Very funny to poison DNS and make hotmail visitors visit a fake page which submits their email adress to porn sites transparently before logging them into their inbox!

      --
      There is no god
    2. Re:Wow by spydir31 · · Score: 0, Offtopic
      Actually, Hotmail already does this, as can be clearly seen by this simple method:
      1. Register to Hotmail
      2. Wait one week
      3. ????
      4. Profit!^Wsee large amounts of pr0n spam!
    3. Re:Wow by shibbydude · · Score: 1

      I doubt you mean Bluetooth, which has an effective range of a few feet (eight IIRC). 802.11? I'm sorry about being so anal, but if you don't know which protocal you are using, then my bet is that your network is not that secure (ergo maybe you should not allow public access).

      --
      We're only gonna die from our own arrogance, that's why we might as well take our time...
    4. Re:Wow by moonbender · · Score: 2, Informative

      Actually, there are three classes of Bluetooth devices, with different power levels and accordingly different effective ranges: class 3 with 1 mW has a range of about 10 cm, class 2 with 2.5 mW has a range of about 10 metres, and finally class 1 with 100 mW has a range of 100 metres.

      HTH.

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      Switch back to Slashdot's D1 system.
    5. Re:Wow by shibbydude · · Score: 1

      I still doubt that he is using bluetooth. The transmitter on the accessing device would also need to transmit 100 metres. That would be one hefty PDA! The more common, farther reaching, cheaper, and faster network is built on 802.11. Thanks for the information, though. I did not know that bluetooth could be extended that far.

      --
      We're only gonna die from our own arrogance, that's why we might as well take our time...
    6. Re:Wow by gordyf · · Score: 1

      Ten centimeters? Seriously? That's almost useless.

    7. Re:Wow by rkz · · Score: 1

      oh really?

      Feat your eyes on this

      My phone does work fine from around 100m away I don't know how or why but it does the trick maybe my dongle has got a very sensitive antenna or something who knows.
      the software I use for this is Windows XP running a bluetooth stack by widcomm and their driver's Network Access profile.

      --
      There is no god
    8. Re:Wow by investog · · Score: 1

      if you think this is to rip you off get rid of the cell phone Who spends the capital to develope new technology is entitled to be paid for it

  3. On Man! Carry a can of lighter fluid like stuff? by Jackson · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Hmmmm. I am kinda of taken back at the thought of carrying a can of flammable (I assume) stuff to recharge my phone?

    How may days / hours do I get on a "can"?

    Jackson

  4. Yes, we can save Zippo! by mrmeval · · Score: 1

    Their new product?

    Batteries shapped like Zippo lighters.

    --
    I'd go on a Vegan diet but the delivery time from Vega is too long. --brownkitty
  5. This is cool by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 4, Funny

    Users of cellphones with a fuel-cell battery would carry a cigarette lighter-type fuel container to refuel the battery.

    A propane tank with a shoulder strap and you're good to go for 10 years.

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  6. For the LAZY.... by rkz · · Score: 0, Informative

    DoCoMo to launch fuel cell-run handsets by 2005
    Thu June 5, 2003 06:07 AM ET
    TOKYO, June 5 (Reuters) - NTT DoCoMo Inc 9437.T said on Thursday it expects to launch a mobile phone powered by a fuel-cell battery for extended hours of use as early as 2004, a potential boost for its high-speed third-generation (3G) service.

    DoCoMo's 3G service, which offers video conferencing and speedy access to the Web, had until recently met a cool reception due mainly to the poor battery life of its handsets.

    User growth of the 3G service has picked up pace since DoCoMo, Japan's top cellphone operator, launched new handsets with longer battery life earlier this year.

    But the battery duration of those new models is still substantially shorter than the topline 2G models.

    "If everything goes smoothly, we will see the first model next year or the year after that," NTT DoCoMo President Keiji Tachikawa told a news conference.

    Users of cellphones with a fuel-cell battery would carry a cigarette lighter-type fuel container to refuel the battery.

    Tachikawa said its 3G subscribers totalled about 480,000 as of Wednesday, up from 421,000 users at the end of April.

    DoCoMo aims to win a total 1.46 million 3G subscribers by the end of the current business year to March 2004.

    Japanese mobile phone operators have high hopes that the advanced 3G service will become the next growth driver as the conventional mobile phone market nears saturation.

    Tachikawa said basic functionality of 3G phones is expected to catch up with that of the 2G models next year.

    He also said, however, the company has no intention of shifting all its subscribers to the 3G service, called FOMA, from its PDC operation, Japan's dominant 2G format, in the near future.

    "We have 40 million PDC users. Demand for that service is still bigger than that for FOMA," Tachikawa said. "PDC and FOMA will co-exist in the next 10 years or so." DoCoMo said separately that technical glitches had affected its first megapixel phones, made by a joint venture between Sony Corp 6758.T and Sweden's Ericsson ERICb.ST , marring the debut of a new photo-phone model with the world's highest resolution.

    DoCoMo, which sold about 40,000 units of the camera-phone on the day of its launch on Wednesday, said e-mail software on the model, which has a resolution of 1.3 million pixels, could freeze up when a message is typed, under certain conditions.

    The company said the problem could be solved by a software upgrade and that it did not plan to carry out a recall.

    Shares in DoCoMo closed down 0.38 percent at 265,000 yen, underperforming the Nikkei average .N225 , which rose 1.16 percent.

    --
    There is no god
    1. Re:For the LAZY.... by smallpaul · · Score: 1

      How is mirroring a site that is not slashdotted "informative"? You're really fucking lazy if you can be bothered to scroll down and read the article but not to click on the article link.

    2. Re:For the LAZY.... by rkz · · Score: 1

      because the moderators are LAZY too! For articles that short I feel cheated when I click on the link so I thought I'd do other lazy fellows a service by pasting it here so they wouldn't feel cheated like I did.

      --
      There is no god
    3. Re:For the LAZY.... by SurgeonGeneral · · Score: 1

      you feel cheated??? out of what exactly? That is so weak.. I think if people dont have enough time (1.5 seconds) to load the webpage, they wont be reading your idiotic repeition of it.

      Isnt that copyrighted material? The people who have been cheated are the writer, the host of the writer's work and the advertisers that support their website. VERY poor attempt at a Karma grab. I hope you've learned your lesson.

      --
      -- "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains." Jean Jacques Rousseau
  7. enviromentalists... by Subnirvana337 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I wonder what the enviromentalists/christians will say...

    What would Jesus use to power his cell phone?

    Yes, i know its a contradiction but they did come up with the what would jesus drive aimed at SUVS...

    1. Re:enviromentalists... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He would most likely walk. Any other means of transportation would probably not fit his budget.

    2. Re:enviromentalists... by Subnirvana337 · · Score: 1

      exactly! and he wouldnt have a cell phone..but hey, they want to do that to make others feel guilty about buying SUVs and yadda yadda ya..I believe in Freedom of speech but they're just wack.

    3. Re:enviromentalists... by Loki_1929 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "they did come up with the what would jesus drive aimed at SUVS..."

      Well, let's see here. He's a carpenter (meaning he has lots of tools, equipment, and supplies) who does a lot of traveling to exotic areas. Sounds like he'd use something like a Ford Excursion.

      --
      -- "Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else."
    4. Re:enviromentalists... by craigtay · · Score: 1

      I didn't realize that christians and enviromentalists were in the same catagory.. Cool.. I guess

      --
      Paint.NET, a Free Image Editor, with Source Code Available!
    5. Re:enviromentalists... by Servo · · Score: 1

      Yeah, you know.. save Jonah's whale and all that.

      --
      A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over. -Benjamin Franklin
  8. Hype & Buzzword by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This is entirely motivated by hype and the desire to use a buzzword.

    Isn't it far easier and cheaper to just to plug the phone in occasionally and carry a spare battery if you have to?

    Energy storage in fuel cells is actually quite expensive, especially compared to electricity. The main advantage is far longer battery life. But for phones, which last for days anyway, why?

    1. Re:Hype & Buzzword by spydir31 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Another benefit is that the consumer now needs to regulary pay for the fuel,
      thus creating a constant source of income for the companies

    2. Re:Hype & Buzzword by tomstdenis · · Score: 0, Redundant

      um the electricity out of the wall comes from...?

      Stupid people. Need brain more!

      --
      Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    3. Re:Hype & Buzzword by spydir31 · · Score: 1

      I'm hoping you don't usually pay your cell company for electricity.
      You do pay for both, but they'd prefer you pay them, right?

    4. Re:Hype & Buzzword by tomstdenis · · Score: 1

      My comment was to the "oh have to buy fuel to power it".

      You have to buy electricity as it stands now. So you're moving from one source to another. Provided its cheaper/environmentally friendly who cares who gets the money?

      Besides cellphones suck anyways. Stupid motorola v120c P.o.S

      --
      Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    5. Re:Hype & Buzzword by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How about reading the article?

      Quote:

      DoCoMo's 3G service, which offers video conferencing and speedy access to the Web, had until recently met a cool reception due mainly to the POOR BATTERY LIFE of its handsets.

      (emphasis mine)

      3G phones with megapixel cameras suck a lot of juice - this isn't your ancient Nokia or Startac anymore.

    6. Re:Hype & Buzzword by badasscat · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Isn't it far easier and cheaper to just to plug the phone in occasionally and carry a spare battery if you have to?

      In a word, no. Have you ever looked at the prices for cel phone batteries? They're generally only slightly less than the cost of the phone itself. For my $99 phone, a spare battery is $80. Some batteries are even more expensive than that.

      And having to plug the phone in occasionally? Do you understand the concept of a mobile phone? How are you going to plug in a phone on your average train, plane, or automobile? (If you can do it, you generally need yet another special attachment, such as a cigarette lighter adapter. This basically defeats your point, which is that it's simpler just to plug in once in a while. It isn't.)

      Energy storage in fuel cells is actually quite expensive, especially compared to electricity. The main advantage is far longer battery life. But for phones, which last for days anyway, why?

      I suppose it's pointless to tell a Slashdot reader to RTFA. Battery life on 3G phones is not very long - this is their main drawback and the reason why adoption rates have been low. Lots of people have been saying it's going to take a major breakthrough in battery technology to really improve the situation for small, high-tech devices like 3G phones and even current laptop computers - fuel cell technology is that breakthrough. Eventually, we'll all be using fuel cells for our portable devices. May take 20 years for the switchover to be complete, but it'll happen. It has to, given how power-hungry we've become.

    7. Re:Hype & Buzzword by gleam · · Score: 1

      Erm, aren't they already getting a constant source of income in the way of, say, phone bills?

      Maybe it'll be like safety razors -- the phones themselves won't cost much, but the fuel will cost tons.

      -gleam

      --
      this .sig is not a .sig.
    8. Re:Hype & Buzzword by smallpaul · · Score: 1

      But for phones, which last for days anyway, why?

      Did you read the article? "DoCoMo's 3G service, which offers video conferencing and speedy access to the Web, had until recently met a cool reception due mainly to the poor battery life of its handsets."

    9. Re:Hype & Buzzword by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      this is their main drawback and the reason why adoption rates have been low.

      That and the fact that they're full of pointless crap, of course.

    10. Re:Hype & Buzzword by g_attrill · · Score: 1

      Considering it uses regular methanol I imagine anybody could sell refills, unless they patent the refilling system or something silly.

      Gareth

    11. Re:Hype & Buzzword by spydir31 · · Score: 1

      They never said that, I was assuming they'd use Hydrogen, though.
      and there's nothing stopping them from making a trick refill system, stating safety (which'll probably get broken quickly, like the printer refills, but still...)

    12. Re:Hype & Buzzword by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You fool. Your phone did not cost $99. It was subsidized by the phone company. That's why they reel you in with the big fat one year contract.

    13. Re:Hype & Buzzword by gad_zuki! · · Score: 3, Insightful

      >. For my $99 phone, a spare battery is $80. Some batteries are even more expensive than that.

      That's standard cell phone pricing. They subsidize the cost of the phone with contacts, promotions with manufacturers, etc and also heavily mark-up accessories like batterys, cases, etc. Worse, you usually have to buy accessories retail so there's another mark-up.

      Don't think this kind of pricing will magically go away. They're still going to mark-up to whatever the market can bear. Currently, what protections do we have the cells phone companies and laptop companies won't mark-up their fuel cell carts? None. There isn't some standard cartridge they're going to use, so it'll probably end up just like the inkjet market - cheap to get in, but not so cheap to continue. The ink may cost only a few pennies, but the pricing scheme will determine what we really pay.

      There are third generation wireless devices out there and the battery power isn't bad at all. My Sidekick uses GPRS all day and I can almost get two days worth of use out of it.

      Personally, I don't think they should design past 18 hours per charge. That's a whole waking day and people might as well get into the habit or recharging every night or have an extra battery handy if they want 3G tech.

    14. Re:Hype & Buzzword by thogard · · Score: 1

      The subsidizing is over. I can buy a phone for AU$100 (US$65) with no contract. The replacement batteries are still over au$75.

      We gave up with the "free phone" contracts since its cheaper to keep the old contracts and buy replacement phones with no contracts. A full featured phone with all the features are not over au$300 with out a contract. Of course with a contract you get these $750 phones for "free"

  9. Okay, maybe not such a good idea. by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 1

    Hook the fuel cell to your car gas tank and you can talk forever.

    1. Re:Okay, maybe not such a good idea. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hook your current cellphone to your cigarette lighter charger socket and you can also talk forever. So what?

  10. noise as in cars by UCSB_Levendis · · Score: 1

    So now my cell phone will cause more than noise pollution?

    1. Re:noise as in cars by Squarewav · · Score: 1

      No They dont contain many moving parts if any, compressed air and fuel from the "tank" should produce enough power for a phone without any pumps or anything

    2. Re:noise as in cars by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 2, Insightful

      So now my cell phone will cause more than noise pollution?

      It already does, but you don't see it. Your phone uses electricity that is produced in a power plant that most likely generates smoke or nucler waste. Apart if you live in a country that is well-equipped in renewable energy that is.

      With the new fuel cell cell phone (god that's odd to write this), you just move the pollution problem in your pocket, *and* you guarantee that it'll generate 100% fossil fuel pollution, instead of 95%, 90% ... whatever, the rest being renewable energy. If you're in the US, it won't make much difference of course ...

      --
      "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
    3. Re:noise as in cars by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He said "my cell phone will cause more than noise pollution", he didn't say it would create more noise. READ THE QUESTION BEFORE POSTING YOU DUMB DIPSTICK.

    4. Re:noise as in cars by shibbydude · · Score: 1

      Fuel cells usually use hydrogen for a fuel. This combines with oxygen and Voila! Electrons are stripped off and used to power the phone. The only "pollution" is water. I'm not saying that fuel cells are the best power source for phones, but that electricity that you are using now comes from a fossil fuel plant most likely. So even now you are causing pollution by using your computer! You evil terrorist! Hey Homeland Security! I think I found Osama!!!

      --
      We're only gonna die from our own arrogance, that's why we might as well take our time...
    5. Re:noise as in cars by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "With the new fuel cell cell phone (god that's odd to write this), you just move the pollution problem in your pocket

      And where do you think they get the H2 from? They need electricity from burning coal or natural gas for the electrolysis to get hydrogen from water. So you think it is more effiecient to put hydrogen into little plastic parts and ship them in trucks to stores than to ship electricity over power lines?

    6. Re:noise as in cars by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Speaking for the parent poster, no that's not what he thinks. Reread his post, moron.

    7. Re:noise as in cars by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The only "pollution" is water.

      Really?

      So where do we find hydrogen wells?

      Hint: the hydrogen has to come from somewhere.

  11. Just what I need. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Methane two or three inches away from my nose. Another brilliant idea from DoCoMo.

    1. Re:Just what I need. by Mikemikes · · Score: 0

      Methane? I think we are talking hydrogen powered fuel cells here.... They should allready be capable of storing about twice the energy in same volume compared to the best batteries currently availlable.

    2. Re:Just what I need. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Methane is odorless.

    3. Re:Just what I need. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not the kind that comes out of a cow.

    4. Re:Just what I need. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just what I need. Methane two or three inches away from my nose.

      You're right. That's almost as bad as an antenna an inch away from your brain.

    5. Re:Just what I need. by m1chael · · Score: 0

      mobile cow fones: for more info press udder #1, for technical support please press udder #2 and to order more grass please press udder #3, to hang up press udder #4.

      1800-DIAL-A-COW

      yes all this talk of beef is making me hungry...

      --
      I know you are psychotic, but please make an effort.
  12. Re:On Man! Carry a can of lighter fluid like stuff by LazerRed · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Good luck taking your new phone on a plane trip...

  13. Smaller Phones by Malicious · · Score: 2, Funny

    With a phone the size of a Quarter, I shudder to think how hard it'll be to handle the ripcord on a fuel powered phone...

    --
    01101001001000000110000101101101001000000110001001 10000101110100011011010110000101101110
    1. Re:Smaller Phones by shibbydude · · Score: 1

      There would be no ripcord because there is no combustion. Fuel cells are powered by reverse hydrolysis. There may be a large red button, though. Scary...

      --
      We're only gonna die from our own arrogance, that's why we might as well take our time...
  14. Re:On Man! Carry a can of lighter fluid like stuff by Squarewav · · Score: 1

    I would assume they meen the refill is the size and shape of a cigarette lighter, which would be nice that way you can cary them every ware, even planes (do airlines even let you carry lighters on planes anymore or did that stop with the whole 9/11 crap) would make a good emergancy phone for when you dont have access to a plugin to recharge

  15. Is it not dangerous ? by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I had an accident with my bicycle the other day : I landed on my trusted Alcatel cell phone and it splintered into a million pieces. I hate to think what would have happened if the phone contained flamable liquid or gas under pressure.

    Then again, I also landed on $.50 my gas lighter, which was in the same pocket as my busted phone : *it* decided against breaking apart and cracked one of my ribs instead. So I guess the fuel cell phone has a chance to be safe, but still ...

    Also, doesn't such a device emit CO2 and/or water in the process of generating electricity ? where do the exausts go ?

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
    1. Re:Is it not dangerous ? by spydir31 · · Score: 1

      Obviously the exhaust will go into the safest place possible, in this case the user's pants. :)

    2. Re:Is it not dangerous ? by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 1

      So much for all the bitching about carrying around a potentially lethal fuel cell bomb. Your typical cigarette lighter has the explosive force of a stick of dynamite. It's even kept under pressure, for pete's sake. Ever thrown one in the campfire while out camping?

      --
      Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
    3. Re:Is it not dangerous ? by tenordave · · Score: 1

      Force of a stick of dynamite? I think not. If that was true, all terrorists would be using lighters instead of sticks of dynamyte. Just trying blowing up some rock with a lighter, let me know what it does.

      --
      http://students.washington.edu/djwatson
    4. Re:Is it not dangerous ? by Booyakka+Joe · · Score: 1

      To get any amount of explosive power out of say a bic lighter, you'd have to empty it into a carefully sized airtight container to get the fuel/air mixture right.

      This is why cars rarely blow up like in the movies.

      --
      This is where I keep my clever quotes "" Yup I only got a pair, so I better not waste em!
    5. Re:Is it not dangerous ? by EdIsSoKewl · · Score: 1

      > Also, doesn't such a device emit CO2 and/or water in the process of generating electricity ? where do the exausts go ?

      Don't you emit quite a lot of CO2 and water (vapor) in the process of generating lots of heat and maybe a little bit of useful work (on a good day)?

      In this regard, carrying around a fuel-cell phone or PDA whould be no more harmful than doing a few jumping-jacks per day.

    6. Re:Is it not dangerous ? by chrispy666 · · Score: 1

      See ? smoking IS dangerous for your health !

      --
      Music is the language of the heart, the sound of the soul. -Joe Satriani
  16. Water? by ccevans · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The article here did not give very much technical information. What type of fuel cell is being used? Hydrogen? If so, what do they plan to do with the water created? Batteries in cell phones are nice because they don't create any waste products when used. I don't see how a cell phone would be able to use a fuel cell without it being very bulky - it would have to have space for the water, and space for the hydrogen. Furthermore, the user would have to remember to empty it.

    1. Re:Water? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh not that!!!

      A user might have to remember to recharge his phone. I hope you're not saying that too.

    2. Re:Water? by augustwest · · Score: 2, Informative

      maybe we should all look at this ?
      http://www.howstuffworks.com/fuel-cell.htm

      --
      "il y a`, que toute ide`e publique, toute convention recue, est une sottise, car elle a convenue au plus grand nombre.
    3. Re:Water? by JVert · · Score: 1

      Thats great, I wish /. was around when car batteries were first being put out into the market.

      "ohh ohh the sulfer next to the radiator! eat hot death!"

      "What, now I gotta water my radiator AND my battery?"
      "maybe they should setup a fill system where you only fill one container and that will take care of the radiator, winshield wiper and battery"

  17. So now we can look forward to by blamanj · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...people holding up their cell phones at rock concerts?

  18. Fuel Cell power... by bad_fx · · Score: 5, Informative

    Everyone who's asking about the potential battery life/ polution from/ etc the fuel cells might like to read this article in scientific american. It's pretty old but gives a fair idea of what the technology involves. And heres a couple more.

    Basically they have the potential for much longer battery life (magnitudes greater than lithium) and produce water and C02 as waste products. and cheap vodka could potentially be used for the fuel :)

    1. Re:Fuel Cell power... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      what the fuck is C02?

      are you in High School?

    2. Re:Fuel Cell power... by cheesybagel · · Score: 1
      Kid: Mommy, Mommy, my new cell phone is farting!

      Mother: Stop feeding it beans dear.

    3. Re:Fuel Cell power... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Cheap vodka as fuel? That's a terrible idea. If my cell phone had cheap vodka as its battery, I would never have a working cell phone.

    4. Re:Fuel Cell power... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wrong, vodka won't work as fuel. These things need hydrogen, not alchohol. Unless you have a brilliant way of magically making hydrogen, it still comes from fossil fuels.

    5. Re:Fuel Cell power... by aaarrrgggh · · Score: 1

      You can reform hydrocarbons and extract the H2.

  19. Technology going backwards by prestwich · · Score: 1

    Oh this is mad - fuel cells are a wonderful idea - but to have to have refills?! Oh please - can the lot of them and send the guys back to the research lab until they can make them rechargeable.

    1. Re:Technology going backwards by techturtle · · Score: 1

      I think I'm missing your meaning here. Don't "refills" and "recharching" kind of mean the same thing in respect to fuel cells? Or are you implying that you'd want to be able to plug your fuel cell into an electrical source some how to recharge/refuel it? Would'nt that kind of defeat the purpose? Clue me in.

      --
      If you don't have something nice to sig, then don't sig anything at all.
    2. Re:Technology going backwards by Daetrin · · Score: 1
      but to have to have refills?! Oh please - can the lot of them and send the guys back to the research lab until they can make them rechargeable.

      You are obviously using a different definition of rechargeable than i am.

      The battery has a source of energy, when it runs out, you can replace the fuel without getting an entirely new battery. It's rechargeable.

      Perhaps you think something is only rechargeable if you can plug it into a wall? I don't know about you, but most people i know don't have hydrogen outlets in their houses, so the people in the research lab would be twidling their thumbs waiting for that development to occur before releasing the exact same product in order for it to fit in with that idea of rechargeable.

      --
      This Space Intentionally Left Blank
    3. Re:Technology going backwards by prestwich · · Score: 1

      Well didn't the original fuel cells split water into hydrogen and oxygen during charging and then reverse the process during use; so it was completely reversible - no physical addition of new chemicals; just plug in and charge.

  20. Re:Just what I need.-Goat man. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    "Methane two or three inches away from my nose. Another brilliant idea from DoCoMo."

    **taps shoulder**

    Uh, chief. That's not a cellphone.

  21. Redefinition of road rage... by techturtle · · Score: 2, Funny

    That's just great! Now when I honk and politely wave (the international hand sign for "your # 1" of course) at the soccer Mom driving 40 mph on the freeway in front of me whilst applying her make-up and talking on her cell phone, she'll be able to immediately retalliate by tossing her handy fuel cell communication grenade at me through the sun roof on her 5 mpg SUV!

    What's next? Kids running around with self pumping Super Soakers powered by napalm!!?!?

    I tried to control myself...I swear!

    --
    If you don't have something nice to sig, then don't sig anything at all.
    1. Re:Redefinition of road rage... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's funny. Really. I say +5:funny ...

  22. Electrochemical Cells by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fuel cells are just electrochemical cells that produce energy by a reaction between a fuel and an oxidant -- e.g. liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen -- it's converted continuously and directly into electrical energy. ... but for a cell phone? I wonder what they're using for the reaction.

    http://rhlx01.rz.fht-esslingen.de/projects/alt_e ne rgy/storage/fuelcell/fuelcell.html

    1. Re:Electrochemical Cells by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wouldn't carrying liquid oxygen around be potentially dangerous?

    2. Re:Electrochemical Cells by gdarklighter · · Score: 1

      Actually, liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen are NOT used in most fuel cells because of the dangers involved in using them. Most fuel cells use a redox reaction involving hydrogen and oxygen IONS, thus generating an electric current.

  23. Larger versions good for laptops ? by 2sleep2type · · Score: 1
    I would hope that a larger version of the same idea would become avalible for laptops. I get around an 1hour on my battery. It's not much use on a longer train journey or when your on the move during the day.

    Also I have known them pack up in a long meeting.

    Whilst you have to basicaly be plugged in all the time you use them they are not that mobile a solution.

    I had been hoping that freeplay, who make the wind up radios would lauch something after an article I read some time ago where a laptop solution was hinted at. However nothing has come to market. Interestingly they have a mobile charger.

  24. Re:On Man! Carry a can of lighter fluid like stuff by cmeans · · Score: 4, Informative
    The US DOT has already approved fuel cells on airplaines.

    --
    Give a hand, not a hand-out.
  25. 10 years by spydir31 · · Score: 5, Funny

    which is probably what you would go in for, too :)

  26. Re:Is it not dangerous ?-Empty pants theater. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Obviously the exhaust will go into the safest place possible, in this case the user's pants. :)"

    Why not? Nothing else does.

  27. Wet Pockets by jonknee · · Score: 1

    Except for wet pockets, this sounds pretty cool. I know I'm not the only one who has too many chargers... Ugh. Now if they could make a fuel cell that I could plug in any device into... That'd be cool. Forget searching for the ONE outlet in a whole airside.

    1. Re:Wet Pockets by Jason1729 · · Score: 1

      Batteries come in standard sizes like AA and D. They're designed to plug into any device. It's just these cell phone and notebook computer that want to rip off their customers by forcing them to buy proprietary sizes. My main criteria in picking my PDA was one that took ordinary batteries; not the internal rechargables that some have. I got 2 sets NiMH batteries for it for $10 and that's been a lot more useful than having to charge the PDA in a proprietary cradle.

      Jason
      ProfQuotes

    2. Re:Wet Pockets by NDPTAL85 · · Score: 1

      What kind of PDA do you have? Mine can be recharged in the cradel OR via the power adapter alone. Plus the battery is removeable. So all you have to do is carry either the adapter and or a spare battery around with you.

      Much more convienent then hoping your near some place that will sell fuel cell refills. And why the hell would someone want to PAY to recharge their device everytime it needs recharching?

      --
      Mac OS X and Windows XP working side by side to fight back the night.
    3. Re:Wet Pockets by Dynedain · · Score: 1

      On the other hand, my three most recent PDA purchases were made because I was quite sick of not having a fresh set of AAAs lying around when my PDA decided to run out of juice.

      --
      I'm out of my mind right now, but feel free to leave a message.....
    4. Re:Wet Pockets by Jason1729 · · Score: 1

      Handspring Visor deluxe. Except for a color display and slightly newer version of palmOS, there's still no PDA I'd rather have.

      How much did your spare battery cost? As I said, my two sets were $10. That way I always have one charging and one in the Palm. I also use the alkalines that came with for when the ones in it die. After over a year, they're still more than 90% full.

      Charging the palm from the cradle is useless because I don't leave my computer on when I'm not using it. The power adapter is almost as bad...It's yet one more thing that ties up an outlet. I have 3 power bars in here already and no free outlets. I also have lots of other devices that take standard batteries; minidisc player, digital camera, gameboy, etc. So I don't even have to think about charging proprietary batteries specifically for the PDA.

      The only thing I have a non-standard battery for is my cell phone, and that's the only thing that consistantly lets me down with a dead battery. I will not pay $90 for a battery for a phone that was $110 with a battery; especially when 5 AAA's would cost $12.50 have the same capacity (and fit in the same space).

      Jason
      ProfQuotes

    5. Re:Wet Pockets by Jason1729 · · Score: 1

      If you can't remember to charge batteries, it's your problem. I don't see how you can remember to charge the PDA but not batteries.

      Jason
      ProfQuotes

    6. Re:Wet Pockets by NDPTAL85 · · Score: 1

      My pda is also my cell phone. www.kyocerasmartphone.com Its a Kyocera 7135. It cost me $500 at the time that I bought it and I've been able to get two spare batteries, one for $35 cause I was in a rush and later on another for $15.

      Due to it being a phone I really have to charge it every night. My previous smartphone, the Kyocera 6035 could go almost an entire week without needing to be recharged but thats because it had a monochrome screen. Man am I glad I have color now.

      Ebay is a good source for cheap 3rd party batteries. I also keep a spare charger in my bag and my cradel has a charger of its own.

      --
      Mac OS X and Windows XP working side by side to fight back the night.
  28. more info by wilgamesh · · Score: 3, Interesting
    The reuters story was a little short on info. FuelCellWorks has some more info.

    I think some people think the idea of refueling is a bit arcane sounding, but the point of fuel cells is the higher energy density and the somewhat increased flexibility we have in creating new technologies to exploit the form of the energy. Batteries haven't improved by much in many many years of research.

    According to FuelCellWorks, the DoCoMo phone will have up to 300 hrs functioning time. This is an improvement on my current cell phone, which lasts about a week. Furthermore, the use of little canisters for refueling is pretty much like carrying around a spare battery. It gets around the recharge problem. If I'm in a rush, I don't want to have to stick my phone into the power socket for half an hour.

    At some point, I think we won't need to refuel. DoCoMo or someone else can make a device that will use electricity to regenerate from the fuel cell waste products back into fuel. Highly inefficient, but convenient when you run out of your little canisters

    1. Re:more info by Qrlx · · Score: 1

      I would be perfectly happy with a little hand crank generator to recharge the batteries in my cell phone. You could probably even do it while talking. But nooooo, all this "technology" is really just a way to consume more and more resources in new and exciting ways. Oh, how liberated we will be when we don't have to wait for our cellphone batteries to recharge! THANK YOU MR SONY! Now my nightmare of waiting for the battery to charge, or (gasp) having to purchase a second battery can finally end!

      And yes, I am aware of the irony of appearing on TV only to decry it.

    2. Re:more info by osgeek · · Score: 1

      It's always amusing how "human power" advocates always forget that turning a little hand crank enough to get useful power takes a lot of energy to. Tricky old thermodynamics laws.

      --
      Why are you letting these clowns ruin our country?
  29. A new way.. by craigtay · · Score: 1

    To kill people who use cell phones in their car.. wait a minute. Maybe this is good.

    --
    Paint.NET, a Free Image Editor, with Source Code Available!
  30. What about taking it on a plane? by Esion+Modnar · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Don't they screen for flammable containers, especially under pressure?

    On a related note (gee-wizz tech that has drawbacks), those new PDA's and cell phones with builtin cameras: you can't take those into secure or otherwise classified facilities. Something to think about if your travels take you thither.

    --

    They say the first thing to go is your penis. Well, it's either that or your brain. I forget which...
    1. Re:What about taking it on a plane? by techturtle · · Score: 1

      Not sure if it counts, but I take at least one, sometimes 2 or 3 disposable butane lighters (Bic, etc) on US commercial flights all the time. They're under pressure and pretty combustable. Try running over one in a car or just footbal spiking one on the cement sometime.

      I smoke (yeah, yeah, I know), so I know I took one on a flight around 2 weeks after 9/11 without it being mentioned or questioned by security. As a matter of fact, I'd never even thought of that being an issue until this thread. On that note what's to stop someone from starting a big fire on a plane with their handy Bic and that stack of Magazines they keep in the overhead? Thanks for the paranoid episode!!! :-)

      --
      If you don't have something nice to sig, then don't sig anything at all.
    2. Re:What about taking it on a plane? by Esion+Modnar · · Score: 1
      Yeah, and I used to take a pocket knife with a 2 inch blade on planes (before 9/11) all the time. And nary a glance from the guards.

      And get this, on one commuter flight into DC, we passed directly over the Pentagon going into the airport.

      By the by, didn't that "shoe bomber" use a lighter to try to light his shoes? I remember there was a much closer look at peoples' shoes after that, but I don't know if there was anybody looking at lighters...

      Oh, how times have changed...

      --

      They say the first thing to go is your penis. Well, it's either that or your brain. I forget which...
    3. Re:What about taking it on a plane? by gdarklighter · · Score: 1

      On a related note (gee-wizz tech that has drawbacks), those new PDA's and cell phones with builtin cameras: you can't take those into secure or otherwise classified facilities. Something to think about if your travels take you thither.

      If it's a classified facility, chances are you can't bring a PDA or cell phone in there, period.

  31. Re:For the KARMA WHORE.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    -1:redundant

  32. hmm by inertia187 · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...fuel-cell battery would carry a cigarette lighter-type fuel container...

    "Hey buddy, can I bum a charge?"

    --
    A programmer is a machine for converting coffee into code.
  33. I have four words by elpapacito · · Score: 1

    Fuel Cell Powered Laptops...

    What premium would you pay for a Laptop or PDA you can recharge in a snap ?

    1. Re:I have four words by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 1

      Newflash : you can change the batteries in your PDA in a snap.

      --
      "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
    2. Re:I have four words by elpapacito · · Score: 1

      News Update : the refill another battery

  34. Re:God Damnit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You forget the number one rule for accepting stories on Slashdot : a news item must be old, otherwise it doesn't have that rancid smell everybody loves. Note that this one is only 2 days old, it's not that bad ...

  35. new feature by 73939133 · · Score: 1

    So, in addition to MP3 players, FM radios, digital cameras, and voice recorders, phones will now also have lighters?

  36. Re:On Man! Carry a can of lighter fluid like stuff by nfotxn · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Hmmmm. I am kinda of taken back at the thought of carrying a can of flammable (I assume) stuff to recharge my phone?
    Um, ever used matches or a lighter?
    --

    _nfotxn

  37. Re:On Man! Carry a can of lighter fluid like stuff by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    >How may days / hours do I get on a "can"?

    I don't know, but it increases the more Mexican food you eat.

  38. Not really an enviromentalist, but... by Dr_Auknix · · Score: 1

    Running water is here to stay, fossil fuels are not. To be honest I didn't read the article but unless it's a hydrogen powered cell I can't really see this being a logical step forward over enviromentally "free" energies like what hydro-electric dams produce.

  39. What would Jesus drive? Probably an Econoline. by MsGeek · · Score: 3, Funny

    Well, most carpenters and handymen I know of are too poor for that, and certainly the Carpenter of Nazareth would be similarly tapped out. Most have aging light trucks or panel vans. What would Jesus drive? Probably something like this. (No, I don't think Mike Watt is God, but I think they jam together on occasion.)

    --
    Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power multiplied.
  40. Thank you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Thank you for posting this, it has changed my life.

  41. Fuel Cell Phone by appleLaserWriter · · Score: 1

    Fuel cells produce CO2 and H2O. This is fine for cars which already leak out all kinds of nasty chemicals. But I don't think cell phones will sell well if they start peeing the user.

  42. you got that right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I don't think reuters is going to get slashdotted.

  43. Re:EXECUTIVE ORDER by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yay!! Let's put Saddam back in power and get those plastic shredders revved up again!!!!

  44. he fooled me good show by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    this one has some talent in him. or i have some stupid in me.

  45. Hang on a second... by Realistic_Dragon · · Score: 1

    My 6310i does _18_ days on one battery - and spare batteries are £18 ($25 or so?).

    I assume this is for people who, unlike me, don't use their phones only for data calls, and can't carry a spare battery in their laptop case or with their PDA.

    Ah well, new gadgets are always good, and I'd love to get more than 3 hours out of my laptop as well - I'm sure I can hook something up to feed one off the other.

    --
    Beep beep.
  46. How hot? by momerath2003 · · Score: 1

    I know that there's no combustion involved, but the reaction that takes place certainly evolves some heat. I think even the water released is in its gaseous form. The question is, how hot will the fuel cell get under normal use?
    I know thatI wouldn't like something scalding in my pocket.

    --
    I had but a simple dream, to destroy all humans.
    1. Re:How hot? by gdarklighter · · Score: 2, Informative

      Actually, fuel cells are remarkably efficient. I have seen specs on some fuel cells that list 90% efficiency, while I've seen most listed between 40 and 60 percent. Not very much heat produced at all.

  47. Won't it suck when... by theantipode · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... your phone doesn't pass emissions tests?

    --
    When I am king, you will be first against the wall
    With your opinion which is of no consequence at all
  48. A better solution by Burz · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Instead of carrying around an ultra-expensive fuel cell outfit, try this instead:

    1) Get a small AA or AAA battery pack with the same voltage rating and power connector as your phone

    2) Fill it with Titanium-Alkaline or Lithium photo cells (very high-capacity compared to recharables)

    3) Keep this on hand for backup power just like you would the tech-fetishist hydrogen tank. If after 6-36 months you run low on backup power, just buy more batteries at any nearby store that sells cameras, etc. If you noramlly keep your internal battery charged, then the external cells could last you for years!

    Savvy people have done this with camcorders, phones , PDAs and even laptops for years. You can even get AA/AAA packs shaped like the mfg.'s rechargable units that fit right onto your device.

  49. ALRIGHT FUEL CELLS RULE! by NDPTAL85 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    YES!

    Now instead of being able to plug in my cell phone and recharge it for FREE, I can now PAY for a fuel cell recharge! WOO HOO!

    And instead of the power being conviently in any place where there's an outlet I now get to worry about finding places to BUY fuel cell refills and making sure I have ENOUGH ON HAND at any given time so I'm not ASS OUT OF LUCK!

    I'm so glad these fuel cell companies have relieved me of the misery of plugging my phone in every other day. I mean that was SOOOO hard. And its not like buying just one spare battery was easy or anything. Scrounging around for places that SELL fuel cell refills is a much more convienent thing to do in the middle of the night after you've been on the phone for a long period of time and the charge runs down. Phew.

    So lets just review for those who may not have gotten it yet.

    Instead of recharging my phone at home for FREE, I now get to PAY!
    Instead of being able to recharge my phone in my car for FREE, I now get to PAY!
    Instead of having the convienence of power at any outlet or carrying an extra battery for those RARE times the average human is away from an outlet for extended periods of time, I get to SCROUNGE FOR FUEL CELL REFILLS!
    Lastly, instead of buying an extra charger for the workplace to recharge my phone for FREE, I get to PAY for fuel cell refills!

    WOO HOO! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!

    Now THIS is a business plan. Someone ought to make sure that THIS kind of business thinking is taught to all those dot.com rejects who came up with those HORRIBLY STUPID business plans that had NO HOPE OF MAKING ANY MONEY CAUSE THEY WERE STUPID!

    --
    Mac OS X and Windows XP working side by side to fight back the night.
    1. Re:ALRIGHT FUEL CELLS RULE! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      wow, you get your electricity for free? im kinda jealous right now.

    2. Re:ALRIGHT FUEL CELLS RULE! by The+J+Kid · · Score: 1

      That's pluging in your cell phone for "free",

      "free" meaning paying your electricity bill at the end of the month anyway right?

      Fuel cells are "free" as in "beer/methane", so that is the obviouse choise for the slashdotter!

      --
      Moderation: +4. Modded 70% Funny and 30% Overrated. 100% Saturated.
    3. Re:ALRIGHT FUEL CELLS RULE! by NDPTAL85 · · Score: 1

      If you can actually notice a difference in your monthly electric bill for months you charge your phone at home and months when you don't I'd be VERY surprised.

      Furthermore would charging from home cost more than buying fuel cell refills? I doubt it.

      Not to mention charging at work costs you nothing, charging from your car is a negligible cost...etc.

      --
      Mac OS X and Windows XP working side by side to fight back the night.
    4. Re:ALRIGHT FUEL CELLS RULE! by The+J+Kid · · Score: 1

      Fair enough, but the energy has to come from somewhere, and has to be paid for...

      And anyway, it might even be the case that in the future you'd be able to get "fuel cell refills" as easily as batteries, and they'd be _much_ more enviroment friendly!

      (Not that a nice propriaty "cell phone fuel cell refill" would be surprising, alas)

      --
      Moderation: +4. Modded 70% Funny and 30% Overrated. 100% Saturated.
  50. yes and no by zogger · · Score: 1

    The big main benefit of fuel cells (especially in devices like phones/pdas/laptops or there are the same thing anymore) are two, and an obvious two:

    Your %^&*ing batteries don't wear out and have to be replaced, frequently at a cost of more than something new, meaning some landfill waste, and the dead batteries themselves are mucho icky. This also means the devices have a much longer practical use lifespan,so they won't be replaced as often, which will force manufacturers to emphasize quality & reliability & easy internal upgradeability over blinkenlights & bloat-auge & casual tossability

    FAST "recharge" time. FAST as in not hours or even minutes, but in under a minute tops to full power

    ALSO, this makes the concept of fuel cells get to joe consumer, that it's viable. For instance, it is trivially easy and cheap to make your own fuel at home, ethanol or methane for example, either of which are quite clean fuels. This causes mindshare, the experimental mindset, acceptance of new technologies, more R&D leading to larger scale, more decentralised power (read, kill the monopolies) and so on and so forth.

    downsides are....ummm....hmmm..... precious metals used for catalysts go up in value? Nice investment opportunity there...

  51. "Hello, 911????!!!!..." by psyconaut · · Score: 3, Funny

    ....I'd like to report a fire...yes, it's my cellphone....please come quick.... *HAND BURNING*....quick, I said!!!!!.... *DIALTONE* ;-)

    -psy

  52. Re:EXECUTIVE ORDER by zogger · · Score: 0, Troll

    Yaaay! Let's rev up those CS flammable poison gas injecting tanks and ram more homes and burn people alive then machine gun the ones seeking to escape! Yaay! US Justice- an equal opportunity incinerator!

    Yaaay! Lets spray concentrated poison from aircraft over huge areas of third world rice farmers that causes death and birth defects into at least three generations!

    Yaaay! Lets spray the same poison over huge areas of south america to knock out the business rivals of "our" drug smugglers of the week! Yaaay!

    Yaaay! Lets order our veterans to undergo testing with chemical biological and radiological agents,including direct injections, drug them with experimental drugs with known long lasting side effects,let them watch their children be born with half an arm and no eyes on their face, watch them murder their families in fits of forced-drugging induced rage, then tell them IT'S ALL IN THEIR HEADS when they get sick and die, and refuse to provide any of the medical care they were promised! Yaaay!

    Yaaay!

    You live in the hypocritical united states of amnesia, friend

  53. Something I've always wanted... by phocuz · · Score: 2, Funny

    is a Soviet made nuclear reactor for my cell-phone. I dont care if I had have a truck for the battery, I would still own. "I'm sorry our conversion was interrupted, but I had a nuclear melt-down". It would sure beat whining about my Nokia having a stand-by time of 5 hours after one year of using it. Just get some nice uranium and keep the cellie on for 150.000 years.

    1. Re:Something I've always wanted... by ^_^x · · Score: 1

      The batteries are disposable, but these guys make a battery that can give you 9-18 hours of talk time in a Nokia. They cost $10-20 and store well, but will eventually expire on their own once activated.

  54. well by phocuz · · Score: 1

    You do know that a whole bunh of batteries we have on the market are a lot more dangerous to the environment compared to say, ethanol, or something else for the means of getting energy for something.

    as a sidenote: hydro-dams aren't all good even, since when you flood areas during parts of the year, as is the case in Sweden, there is a whole bunch of gas produced, which then goes on and helps ruining the ozone layer.

    I think the only sustainable method is to hand over all power to me. That way I could gather all good-looking chicks, kill the rest, and not need any electricity as I would keep warm anyways. perfect solution.

  55. Re:On Man! Carry a can of lighter fluid like stuff by deepfusion · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Actually Bic lighters are still allowed on airplanes even after the shoe-bomber incident. The tobacco companies lobbied the Bush adminstration to remove them from the 'restricted items list' citing that it would hurt their addicts...I mean customers.

  56. Shades of Nazi Rocket Propelled Aircraft. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Komet, a rocket propelled aircraft that the Nazi used against allied bombers, had two tanks of fuel, that when mixed in the rocket motor, produced the thrust. Only problem was, the stuff was deadly. Stick your finger in a cup of it, and withdraw only the bone. Now we get cellphones for smokers that use some sort of "fuel" in a can. What ever happened to "solar power" ?

  57. From disposable batteries to disposable cartridges by aquarian · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Now that we've moved to rechargeable batteries for everything, they're not making as much money selling us disposable ones. I guess getting us hooked on disposable fuel cell cartridges is a way to make up the deficit.

    Of course, there's no technical reason we couldn't refill our own cartridges with methanol, but like wiht inkjet cartridges, they'll probably put chips in them or something to keep us from doing that. Flammability? Safety? Bah... it's about money, the old razor blade business model.

  58. In other news... by appleLaserWriter · · Score: 2, Informative

    President Bush on Thursday stopped by a booth by MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc. of Albany in Washington, D.C., and made a cell phone call from a phone powered by MTI's direct methanol micro fuel-cell system, according to the company.


    Thursday was Feb 6, 2003.

  59. Hype & Buzzword-Global domination. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Eventually, we'll all be using fuel cells for our portable devices. May take 20 years for the switchover to be complete, but it'll happen. It has to, given how power-hungry we've become."

    Apparently Iraq agrees with you.

  60. Vision I.Q. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Isn't there supposed to be some collective intelligence in a slashdot discussion? Where is it?

    Anyone who cannot see that fuel cells will revolutions nearly every class of power using technology doesn't have a clue.

    That even so many slashdotters haven't figured this out yet may indicate the broadening of participation deeply into the clueless masses. Maybe that's why articles on fuel cells come by fairly regularly. It's a heads up folks.

    Fuel cells are now where transisters were in the early days. Of course they're a little bit expensive. Of course it's not easy to fit one into one of today's tiny cellular phones. How many years ago was it that the smallest handheld cellular phone was the size of a brick? Not very many.

    I will not now go to great lengths to enlighten those who do not yet understand the influnce fuel cell technology will have on the technological landscape in the coming decades. If you are interested, you can easily explore the topic online.

    I will, however, try to give a few salient points that I hope will stick.

    1. Not fouling up the environment counts. When the economic structure some day factors in the full lifecycle costs of converting fuels into useful energy, including how much they pollute to provide that energy, fuel cells will be even more attractive.
    2. A fuel cell can be though of as a refillable battery which uses commodity fuels. The usefull energy produced by todays miniature fuel cells along with their fuel (usually methanol) is already more than that of all but very small batteries, yet today batteries are the weakest link preventing more powerful (pun intended in retrospect only) mobile technologies. That's why consumer products will soon be using them; higher energy demand. It won't be just for lab prototypes and the military.
    3. If you're at the tail end of the bell curve of clueful people who need to see everyone else recognize reality before you do, you'll probaby be the naive person buying my shares of various companies at the hight of the insane bubble that occurs when the huge center of the bell curve is in the process of waking up. Don't let this be you. Think for yourself, ask hard questions, and use a wide variety of sources of information.

  61. Fuel hrmmm. So by POds · · Score: 2, Interesting

    wheres the exhaust go?

    --


    Giving IE users a taste of their own medicine since 2005 - http://pods.-is-a-geek.net/
    1. Re:Fuel hrmmm. So by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The exhaust is just a small amount of water, which the waste heat can evaporate.

    2. Re:Fuel hrmmm. So by POds · · Score: 1

      Im used to the idea that my car can blow up. But my phone :/... Well i actualy dont have a phone, and its just another reason not to get one... Instead of cancer to the head i'll be getting a huge hole blown in the side of it!!!

      --


      Giving IE users a taste of their own medicine since 2005 - http://pods.-is-a-geek.net/
    3. Re:Fuel hrmmm. So by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you're the type that's afraid of a disposable lighter because of it's fuel, then yes, be afraid of this too. I suspect your fear is overkill.

  62. Um,, hippies??! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Um, haven't we been trying for years to make our fuel-cosuming devices operate on batteries?

    1. Re:Um,, hippies??! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      do you have a point?

  63. bleach by waspleg · · Score: 1

    we all know children have no access to the anarchist's cookbook anymore now that libraries are filtered ;)

  64. Not that dangerous by xtal · · Score: 3, Insightful

    People forget that the lithium ion cells they use all the time - cell phones, notebooks - can cause real injury if they go ary, too. There's a large energy density in those cells, and large energy densities mean capability for disaster. Overcharging, shorting, physically deforming, any number of things could cause a charged lithium ion cell to catch fire or explode.

    If you'd carry a lighter with you, they're certainly going to be no more dangerous. Likely a good deal safer, even.

    --
    ..don't panic
  65. Fart-a-phone by HermanAB · · Score: 1

    Cool, imaqine the instructions: To recharge fuel cell, insert in behind and fart...

    --
    Oh well, what the hell...
  66. Re:On Man! Carry a can of lighter fluid like stuff by qqtortqq · · Score: 1

    Millions of people do already, its called a lighter...

  67. Re:On Man! Carry a can of lighter fluid like stuff by mimsfla · · Score: 1

    Will it fly? The list of forbidden items continues to grow.

  68. Some maths for you ... by BillsPetMonkey · · Score: 1

    Cost of new (top of range) mobile phone ~JPY35,000
    Cost of same phone 1 year later ~JPY5,000
    Cost of new battery for same phone ~JPY6,000

    If DoCoMo make a new plugin-type battery it will need to be for the whole range or people won't buy new phones!

    --
    "It's not your information. It's information about you" - John Ford, Vice President, Equifax
  69. Good luck getting these babies on an airplane by Wizzy+Wig · · Score: 2, Funny

    Flammible fuel for mobile phones? Why not skip the middle man and develop a charging system where we rub a glass rod through a swath of cat's fur?