Canon develops fuel cell prototypes
posted October 25th 2005 4:00PM
Canon has now officially jumped onto the
fuel cell bandwagon by announcing their three
new fuel cell prototypes: a large version to power devices like compact printers, a smaller version for digicams
(pictured with fuel cell integrated into the battery holder of a Digital Rebel), and a 1.2 x 1.6-incher for devices
like cellphones. Canon's system focuses on providing hydrogen directly via refillable (cha ching!) cartridges as
opposed to the more common approach of extracting hydrogen from
methanol. Simmer down now 'cause
they're working on a system to pack down the hydrogen using metal hydrides so you don't have to carry a highly volatile
cartridge around in your trou. Canon hopes to start replacing the conventional batteries in their products in three
years, god love'm.
Update: Big thanks to Dave Etchells for that snap which surfaced during Imaging Resource's coverage of Canon Expo 2005.
by "trou" I assume you mean trousers? :-)
It's nice of you to give us a picture of the device with the fuel cell.
It would be nicer yet if you could also provide a link to where you got these because I would like to see pics of the actual fuel cells if any exist.
This is brilliant news, two of the greatest hurdles that have to be overcome for me to considder upgrading my digital camera are atleast on the horizon. OLED screens and Fuel Cells, for one thing I was concerned that to beat others, companies might start creating fuel cells that emitted CO2, not good but these guys get my vote for zero emissions.
Secondly I feel myself moving away from OLED screen in favour of SED ones, these I think are going to be the best.
Jadoo has had a system like this for a couple years that I've seen at the NAB convention in Vegas... jadoopower.com
Well, "trou" if I remember correctly is french for "hole," so I'm wondering what the author means by that as well.
Oh la la. Good one, James!
It came from Imaging Resource (thought I recognized it). Dave Etchells took it at Canon Expo 2005 and posted it September 16, 2005. Here's a link to the story:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/NEWS/1126887991.html
Yup, I shot that picture. (A credit would be nice.) The camera appeared to be actually running from the fuel cell. I don't know that the cartridges would be refillable, the Canon reps at the show seemed to indicate that they'd be disposable (recyclable, maybe). It uses metal hydrides to store the H2. One drawback though: The system needs access to air to operate, and someplace to exhaust the water vapor it creates. So there's a big batch of holes not only on the back of the "battery" pack, but all across the bottom as well. I suspect it wouldn't do well in an environment where there was much dust, danger of being splashed with dirty water, etc, etc.
I just don't get fuel cells. They're a fundamentally inelegant technology. Imagine an inverse world - you've spent five years powering your digital camera with a large unwieldy *liquid-based* system that you have to stop and fill up with extra, expensive, potentially dangerous and certainly messy liquid every so often. Suddenly, someone comes along and tells you that you can now power your camera with a neat, inconspicuous solid-state device called a 'battery' - it's smaller, lighter, doesn't need filling up with liquid, and all you need to do to get more power is plug it in when you get home! And all this for a mere 20% loss of power capacity. Wouldn't you be excited by this amazing new technology?
wow, and I am somewhat fluent in french (took it ALOT until recently [Canada]) and I knew that... I rushed to fix a non existant problem. Although if they had said ton trou (your hole), or itilazed it/ put quotations... oh well. :-) life will go on
Prototypes gents, prototypes. This is technology in development and not yet ready for primetime. If fuel cells in production are more harmful to the environment, more expensive, and less powerful, do you think they will be adopted? I for one think Canon is doing a great thing developing these in earnest, and I trust consumers enough for them to make good decisions with their wallets in mind, and their environs.
Just FYI, thats a digital rebel XT... not that 3 days later it matters much though..