Toshiba, Antig showcase methanol fuel cells

We'd really like to see fuel cells take off because, as we've whined before, we can't stand dealing with batteries. And we're psyched that at least two companies — Toshiba and Antig Technology — were showing off their latest methanol cells at CeBIT last week. Antig has actually come up with a cell that you can pop into the CD bay of your laptop (assuming you can get along without your optical drive), which they claim will be market-ready later this year. Toshiba, however, is still hedging on their long-delayed drive, saying that it won't be ready for commercial production until they've addressed size, weight and regulatory issues. We don't know what Antig has done to address these issues that Toshiba hasn't, but we'll be first in line to check out their cell when it launches. After all, given all the explosions and fires caused by conventional batteries, how much riskier can it be to power our laptop with a highly flammable, toxic and corrosive liquid fuel?

[Jimmy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

If I can't take a propane lighter on the plane, what do you think the chances are that Homeland Security is going to let me bring this thing on?

[sarchi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

idea: make a search for battery properties that's been my puzzle?
This gets locked up in a certain white house vault

[franz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

What's wrong with batteries? If they are rechargeable and we improve recycling efforts, what's the big deal? I hear this a lot from techies these days and I don't get it. Fuel cell??? It seems like a lot of wasted energy to generate H2 for H-fuel cells. I don't get how methanol fuel cells are a major improvement over any other combustion engine. Sure, it is a hassle to charge a battery. You have to make the major effort to hook it up to charger overnight - big deal. I'm a dedicated gadget enthusiast, but I not getting this. Please clue me in.

[Matt Whyndham @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

You could be right about the energy economics but that's not the real attraction. Think of fuel cells and H2 as buffer technologies that allow you to use energy made in variety of ways, hopefully renewably, in all your devices. Rechargable batteries aren't the answer. Even rechargables are polluting to make (e.g. extraction of Lithium) and don't last forever.

[ebillgo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

H2 technologies are not pollution free.
H2O the byproduct is also a greenhouse gas:
it contributes to global warming