Canon's Fuel Cell May Drive Portable Gear

RX8 writes "Canon, Inc., has taken the wraps off prototype rechargeable hydrogen fuel cells, the likes of which may one day power digital cameras, media players, and printers. Canon's demonstrated fuel cells win even more points on the environmental front: while companies such as Toshiba, Sanyo, and NEC have also been working on fuel cells (and had been expected to have developed fuel cell-driven notebook computers by now), those efforts are based on DMFC technology which derives hydrogen from methanol, producing small amounts of carbon dioxide (itself a greenhouse gas) in the process. Canon's cells obtain hydrogen from a refillable cartridge with no toxic byproducts."

Cleaner?

[physicsphairy]

those efforts are based on DMFC technology which derives hydrogen from methanol, producing small amounts of carbon dioxide (itself a greenhouse gas) in the process. Canon's cells obtain hydrogen from a refillable cartridge with no toxic byproducts.

As long as we're considering small quantities of C02 a 'toxic byproduct' as a greenhouse gas, I would like to point out that that all hydrogen fuel cells generate dihydrogen monoxide as their principle biproduct, which is an even worse greenhouse gas.

Re:Cleaner?

[Chairboy]

True, DMHO vapor has been intimately associated with the "greenhouse effect". Not to mention, high levels of DMHO are found in the bodies of cancer victims. Is this really the stuff we want to be making more of? It's corrosive, for pete's sake!

Won't somebody please think of the children?

Re:Cleaner?

[Cruithne]

I would like to point out that that all hydrogen fuel cells generate dihydrogen monoxide as their principle biproduct, which is an even worse greenhouse gas.

I'd also like to point out that furry cute little rabbits emit both C02 and dihydrogen monoxide... simultaneously!

fossil fuels for now

[Travoltus]

but in the future, as a hydrogen infrastructure matures, the electricity will come from some hydrogen based generator.

Re:Mods are on crack.

[Lisandro]

HUSH! You ruined it! I was having a blast hitting F5 and watching the comment getting modded up and up!

*goes back to getting some work done*

Other effects

[Chairboy]

As you can see, it also causes dyslexia. I'm referring to DHMO, of course, not DMHO. 100% of all dyslexics have DHMO in their diets!

Re:so where

[benjamindees]

Christ, no one cares. Can we please stop bringing this up on every hydrogen story?

Where do you get the dinosaurs to make your oil/coal? That's just about how stupid your question is.

I plan on getting hydrogen from windmills in my backyard. I plan on getting the copper for the windmills from a mine in Mexico. I plan on getting the magnets for the windmills from China. I plan for the water for the hydrogen to fall from the sky periodically.

You can get yours out of the little plugs in your wall for all I care.

Re:Cleaner?

[gringer]

Oh, don't worry, we'll get there with banning DHMO. A few years ago the Green Party in New Zealand decided that starting a campaign to ban DHMO would be a good idea [junkscience.com].

Yes... this really happened.

For those interested in this very nasty chemical, I suggest you visit http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html [dhmo.org]

Re:Canon has bitten me in the past

[Anonymous Coward]

What I have to say will probably provoke a response from Canon. It may label me "nettlesome" or even "prodigal". I realize and accept that as a consequence of what I am about to say.

Ok, then. Yes, you are nettleseome, prodigal, and even a bit ebullient.

Canon is a drooling, hydra-headed monster of force and terror.

And so are you.

Re:Cleaner?

[SteveAyre]

It's also extremely addictive.

Anyone who takes DHMO is 100% guaranteed to keep taking it until they die.

Re:Not again

[shmlco]

Well I guess it does, now that you've gone and ruined it for everybody...

Re:So now what?

[Anonymous Coward]

Hydrogen comes from Canon in the cartridges. Nobody knows how its made.

Canon's business plan

1. Make digital camera
2. Give away digital cameras
3. ???
4. sell hydrogen cartridges
5. profit

Re:Energy Density

[surprise_audit]

When are they going to come out with a camera that is powered by the push of the button?

You mean, like the old fashioned manual-wind, shutter-and-film variety that have no electronics at all?? I think they first came out in the 1800s...

Now, let me guess about fuel cell cartidges

[jolyonr]

Seeing as Canon are involved, they'll probably contain 5ml of Hydrogen, cost half the price of the camera and be chipped to prevent unauthorized refilling.

Jolyon

Re:so where

[Anonymous Coward]

Coal/Oil is made from dinosaurs?!
Coal/Oil is dinosaurs!
Our fuel is made out of dinosaurs! Next thing they'll be breeding them like cattle for food. You've gotta tell them. You've gotta tell them!

Gads. People are worried over the CO2

[wowbagger]

Gads. People are worried over the CO2 emmisions from fuel cells running on methanol and ethanol. Of course, we ignore that the methanol and ethanol were created by growing things that consumed CO2, so it is a net zero carbon cycle.

OK, folks - if you are going to obsess over CO2 emissions, here are some other CO2 producing items you should be worried about:

• George W. Bush
• Bill Clinton
• Rush Limbaugh
• Ted Kennedy
• Rob Malda
• Shamu
  And not the least of all:
  
• YOU - YES YOU! THE PERSON READING THIS COMMENT!

Another "brilliant" move by Canon.

[Alyred]

Of course, the cartridges will not be refillable, just like their ink cartridges -- and they'll be coded with special chips that can't be modified, will tell you that you have no "fuel" left when you have a half-full cartridge, and uses .5% of the cartridges' power every boot-up to go through an "initialization" cycle.

It's the same as their current strategy of selling ink for $10,000 a liter.

If they're REALLY good, they'll make the screen that transfers the energy clog irrecoverably from time to time so they can sell you special "cleaning cartridges" (only available to dealers) or the consumer has to replace the whole printer.