Hitachi Readies Fuel Cell for PDAs

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!"

Comments

Re:'Terrorist' risk?

[iminplaya]

"...let him take a 'recharge' of pure methanol onboard the plane."
Just eat a can of beans before take off, then they might ask why are you getting an enima from your laptop.

Beans, beans, the magical fruit...

didn't you get the memo?

[*weasel]

I don't know if the politically correct police told you or not, but you're not allowed to promote nuclear energy.

you're supposed to ignore the inescapeable pollution and toxins that fossil fuels and lead-acid batteries dump into our atmosphere, and forget that nuclear power provides at the very least the opportunity for sealed system waste.

nope, we'd rather be 100% certain that we're asphyxiating ourselves and the planet rather than run the risk of irradiating a designated part of it.

any talk of a nuclear reaction is only to be met with horror and outrage. you're not supposed to point out science can create reactors in which it is -impossible- for them to go critical.

no my friend, we are way more advanced a civilization than to think nuclear energy is plausible.