Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Fuel Cells To Appear In Laptops In 2004

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the sooner-is-better dept.

prostoalex writes "The overhyped fuel cells will finally be delivered to the portable computing market. Toshiba and NEC will incorporate fuel cells into the laptops by 2004. Sony, Hitachi and Casio are expected to follow the suit. The tests show a fuel cell lasting 10 hours. With the form-factor of a Bic lighter, it allows the laptop user to carry a few extra cells in the laptop bag all the time. Battery prices are expected to run at about $200."

5 of 393 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Whoa. I mean, no way. by ModernGeek · · Score: 3, Informative

    Airlines have already approved fuel-cell powered laptops on their planes, it is very harmless and such, and airport security is susposed to just keep joe-sixpack from bringing in a gun in his suitcase, they aren't going to check for a small lighter-sized thing in your laptop.

    --
    Sig: I stole this sig.
  2. Re:Whoa. I mean, no way. by JoeBuck · · Score: 4, Informative

    Well, fortunately (or unfortunately, as the case may be), the tobacco industry lobbyists won a battle with the homeland security people: lighters and matches are not banned from airplanes, because big tobacco called their pet politicians and fought the proposed regs. You can take a Bic lighter on a plane in the US.

  3. Re:Will security allow them on planes? by maeka · · Score: 5, Informative
    Sounds rather like a potential weapon to me. In which case what's the point?


    If you would RTFA you would see that the fuel would be somewhere around 24% methanol / 76% water. One of those single serving vodka bottles would make a better weapon.

  4. Re:The most important thing article doesnt mention by homer_ca · · Score: 5, Informative

    Methanol itself is dirt cheap. It's a little more expensive than gasoline, and these fuel cells only use a 24% solution of methanol. 24% is less flammable than the vodka from the drink cart. Article says nothing about refilling, but the potential for profiteering is there by forcing people to buy prefilled fuel canisters just like with inkjets. Of course, the manufacturers will say that they just want to guarantee you the best quality fuel because who knows what impurities are in Brand X methanol mix that'll contaminate your fuel cell.

  5. Hit your charged li-ion pack with a hammer.. by xtal · · Score: 4, Informative

    Booooooooooooooooooooommmmmmm!!!!!!

    Lithium ion cells are very dangerous - maybe more so. Something to think about.

    And please, nobody hit your battery packs with a hammer. Bad things will happen and you could be seriously injured. Seriously. I made a mistake on a circuit board once and had a coin cell go off like a large metal jacketed firecracker.

    --
    ..don't panic