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!"

Early Adopter?

[l810c]

After reading this [pcmag.com], 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..."

Re:Early Adopter?

[Kris Thalamus]

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.

Cool, but...

[Mean_Nishka]

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.

Re:Laptop power consumption & airplane securit

[iantri]

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.

Re:Looking down the line

[ivan256]

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.

Re:Laptop power consumption & airplane securit

[ivan256]

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?

Should I be investing in...

[mykepredko]

The companies that sell the ink-cartridge refilling kits?

Somehow I don't believe that these fuel-cells will be designed to be customer refillable. Following HP, Lexmark and other printer manufacturers, I would expect the fuel-cells to be designed for just one use (return to place of purchase and buy a factory new one).

Along with this, I'm sure there will be warnings/campaigns stating that home refilling solutions will be dangerous, ruin the fuel cell because of improper chemical ingrediants, have significantly less operating time, void your laptop/PDA's warranty or cause you to grow hair on the palms of your hands.

Most of the posts I've seen in this thread make the assumption that the cells can be refilled by the user. I would be very surprised if this was the case.

myke

The other side of the portable power crisis...

[Politicus]

It is ridiculous that these high energy density, no memory effect, zero recharge time and very long self-discharge time devices are only being targetted to provide 6-8 hours of PDA run time. An Apple Newton can run on the order of a week with present 2000mAh NiMH batteries as an example.

As much as progress may benefit from free markets, this is an area where it is being confined to increments just slightly better than currently available products in order to derive maximum profit. This is a revolution that is being constrained to an evolutionary time table.

Several interesting things to note.

• progress is not coming from present day battery manufacturers.
• why don't these devices have self-discharge times equal to fuel shelf life?
• why is all talk focused on fuel being the run-time limiting factor? why can't fuel be in excess and say the solution be the limit? so a recharge would mean putting more tap water in.

Re:Laptop power consumption & airplane securit

[targo]

Something tells me that airlines and security people won't like the idea of people carrying 4 ounce cartridges of flammable pure methyl alcohol onboard flights.

As opposed to bringing any flammable liquid onboard in a soda bottle? People should already realize that the "extra security" in airports an other public places is an absurd waste of travelers' and taxpayers' time and money. It is possible to kill another person with a simple towel after a few weeks training. Glass from picture frames or many other everyday items can be very deadly.
The only way to keep people safe from each other is to handcuff them to their seats, so let's bring an end to this nonsense already.

Re:Let's do that math, kids.

[Rob Simpson]

Gosh, so it's only thousands of times a minute? Way to totally miss the parent's point.

Re:Early Adopter?

[mgg4]

40% served as drinks, vs 20% in fuel cells, neither of which will light on fire

Actually 40% (80 proof) burns rather readily once you heat it to the point where vapors are produced. I just happened to run this experiment last night, showing my wife that although it burns, it is not a violent flame. We were even able to get some 24% (48 proof) liqueur to ignite.

Ethanol and methanol are different, and may have different flash points, but given what I learned last night, I doubt there is much danger from a 20% solution.