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Hitachi Readies Fuel Cell for PDAs

Posted by michael on from the fill-'er-up-with-unleaded dept.

Anuj Jain writes "The Register is reporting that Hitachi and Japanese cigarette lighter maker Tokai will ship a direct methanol fuel cell system for PDAs in 2005. The prototype has already been built. The two companies believe they can develop the prototype into a device the size of a AA battery. Hitachi first demonstrated its fuel cell system back in March. NEC is also known to be working on a similar system of its own, as is Toshiba. Unlike Hitachi, they are targeting the notebook computer market. In October, Toshiba showed off a PDA-sized version of its fuel system that can recharge a mobile phone. Another article here. Light on details, but cool photo in the Reg article!"

6 of 205 comments (clear)

  1. Early Adopter? by l810c · · Score: 4, Insightful
    After reading this, not sure if I will be.

    Also, the thought of a liquid methanol next to all those hot electronics make me wince.

    Akmed to airport security: "I told you, I'm a laptop battery salesman..."

    1. Re:Early Adopter? by Kris+Thalamus · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Even if the amount methanol in these AA size cells poses no risk, I still think manufactures should consider changing the changing the name of the devices to something other than "fuel cell"; If, for no other reason, than to quell the paranoia of the litigation prone public and the sensationalist press.

      It's a sad state of affairs, but PR and marketing can make all the difference to the acceptance of a nascent technologh.

  2. Cool, but... by Mean_Nishka · · Score: 3, Insightful

    While this sounds cool I wonder how practical this will really be.. When I need PDA juice I just pop the thing in the wall and I'm charged. I don't think people will like having to buy methanol cartridges for $5 a shot in order to keep the thing running. To me it's more economical to operate it off the battery and pay the few cents it takes to charge it.

    --
    www.lonseidman.com

  3. Re:Laptop power consumption & airplane securit by iantri · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Forks are also a very serious security risk. A terrorist could say, jam his fork from his meal into a passing flight attendent or worse, the captain.

    Therefore, we should ban forks from planes.

    Let's be realistic -- there's only so much you can do.

  4. Re:Looking down the line by ivan256 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    These things are going to explode way less often than current battery packs. You'll have a hard time igniting a 20% methanol solution.... and that's only when it's fully charged.. It get's diluted down to as low as 3% by the time the cell is fully discharged. It's practically water.

    The fuel cell industry needs to work on it's terminology to stop the misguided myth generation.

  5. Re:Laptop power consumption & airplane securit by ivan256 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It's clear from all the mindless paranoia that we should just ban airlines.

    Or we could all start thinking rationally.... Which one of those is more likely?