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CES: Tiny Fuel Cell is Supposed to Charge a Cell Phone for Two Weeks (Video)

Posted by Roblimo on from the maybe-a-whole-bunch-of-these-could-power-your-house dept.

Many of us have plug-in external batteries of one sort to recharge our smart phones when we're away from power outlets. Or we have gigantic aftermarket batteries that make our phones so fat they barely fit in our pockets. So there is this company, Lilliputian Power Systems, that is just starting to market a tiny, butane-powered fuel cell they call the Nectar that plugs into your cell phone (or whatever) through a USB port and supposedly charges it for up to two weeks. That's a lot better than an add-on battery. It looks expensive, although the power "pods" aren't too pricey at $19.99 for two. But wait a minute: Why aren't fuel cells, not internal combustion engines, the "range extenders" in plug-in hybrid cars? A decade back, fuel cells were going to revolutionize our power delivery and consumption systems. A cell phone charger is cute, but is that really all we can get fuel cells to do?

4 of 204 comments (clear)

  1. Scale matters by gurps_npc · · Score: 5, Interesting
    As to why you can't power a car with them, scale matters. Some electrical sources work great at providing a trickle charge over hours, but can't power a car, even if you put 1000 of them in sequence or serial.

    Sometimes it's a heat issue, sometimes it's weight, sometimes its some other physics law.

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    1. Re:Scale matters by Digital+Pizza · · Score: 4, Interesting

      A few years ago I read of research being done by General Motors (I think) about using a gasoline-powered fuel cell, a process that although still using gasoline, would be far more efficient and clean compared to burning it, and of course there would be no problem refueling.

      I wonder whatever happened to that project?

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  2. Raspberry Pi/Arduino power source by ScienceofSpock · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Depending on the cost, this might make a nifty power supply for Raspberry Pi or Arduino based robots.

  3. Re:Small print by firex726 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Well they have competition with a similar setup, but it uses hydrogen, not butane.
    http://www.horizonfuelcell.com/store/minipak.htm

    But looks like you'll also need a refiller, but depending on the life of it all, it might pay for itself vs. buying these butane ones.
    http://www.horizonfuelcell.com/store/hydrofill.htm