Toshiba crams a fuel cell into PMP concept

A far cry from the concepts of yesteryear, Toshiba is really getting serious about its fuel cell PMP concepts, and this year's model makes the all-important move of integrating the fuel cell power plant into the very back of the player. The unit runs on nearly 100% methanol, and discharges the vapor created through natural evaporation. There's a capacity meter for tracking the amount of fuel you've got left, and the cell provides about 10 hours of 1seg playback. Toshiba's aiming to launch the player in 2008-ish, and is showing off other fuel cell items at CEATEC to bolster its cred, including a prototype laptop -- which you can sign us up for right here and now.

[Dias @ Oct 3rd 2007 10:08AM]

Some trusted sources told me that the device will be called "SweatHands".

[farfisa @ Oct 3rd 2007 10:44AM]

Bet you can't take one of them on a plane.

[kjb434 @ Oct 3rd 2007 10:49AM]

So this would lead to things like gas powered calculators and computers.

[Daniel @ Oct 3rd 2007 11:04AM]

Toshiba Fuelabeat?

[Major Malfunction @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:47PM]

Dias,

Really? I heard it was going to be called "Portapuddle" (tm).

[Andrew @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:53PM]

Major and Dias,

Have you ever seen a DMFC in operation? The amount of water that gets evaporated is incredibly small. This won't cause "sweat hands" or puddles. In fact, in most DMFC designs, the majority of the water is actually recirculated to keep the membrane hydrated, which is an essential aspect of the operation and longevity of the fuel cell.

And kjb434,
No, DMFCs can only run on methanol. Currently, they're the only type of fuel cell being investigated for handhelds. Other fuel cells (SOFC, MCFC) can run on a variety of fuels, but these are large, stationary units for power plants and the like. Besides, the fuels being looked at there are usually natural gas and reformates, not gasoline.

[Major Malfunction @ Oct 4th 2007 12:57AM]

Oh Andrew, do we really have to resort to putting /sarcasm at the end of our posts?


*jumps up and down waving flags with the words "incoming joke" written on them*

[Andrew @ Oct 4th 2007 11:11AM]

What? You've got to be kidding, right? There was no sarcasm at all in my comment. And what I was responding to were ill-informed, sarcastic comments by yourself and Dias. Your original post and this comment are dripping with sarcasm and don't even really discuss fuel cells; they just make a joke about how you THINK they operate. Learn a little more about the topic, and then we'll talk.

[Ess2s2 @ Oct 3rd 2007 1:23PM]

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding here...But from what I can glean, we have here a PMP that runs on a methanol charged fuel cell, which provides 10 hours of playback before needing to be "refueled." Please correct me if I am wrong in my assumptions.

Form the description given, it sounds like you have to go out and buy more methanol every 10 hours. How is this efficient of convenient? Honestly, I would rather this thing run on AAs, because they are much cheaper and easier to find than a canister of methanol. In addition, like someone else said, you don't have to worry about the bomb sniffing dogs in airports barking treed on your PMP if you're toting batteries, but last I checked, methanol was a flammable liquid, not too cool since airports are so paranoid they are trying to limit mothers carrying bottles of *baby formula* onboard.

This seems like technology for technology's sake, which isn't so bad on it's own, but is simply not as practical as say, a rechargeable or replaceable battery.

Nice try Toshiba, but I'm just not feeling it.

[Andrew @ Oct 3rd 2007 1:44PM]

The comment about the airports is actually valid and something that fuel cell developers are working to figure out with the FAA. While it hasn't been allowed in passenger cabins yet, there has been progress in at least shipping the methanol in handheld electronics by air.

As for your other concern... the idea is certainly not that you would have to "fend for yourself" to find methanol. Any company developing the fuel cells and not developing the logistics for distributing the fuel isn't seeing the whole picture. It's just like the hydrogen fuel cell cars being developed. Noone's saying that the current fuel supply is the way things will remain. Someone will establish the methanol distribution. Now, as for 10 hours per methanol canister, that's not really the vision either. The unit itself may only hold enough methanol for 10 hours of playback, but there's nothing saying that your canister will only hold 10 hours of fuel. Fuel cells have that advantage over batteries- the size of the fuel compartment doesn't limit you as long as you continually supply fresh fuel.

Also, as for the number 10 hours itself, remember that fuel cells are still a developing technology that haven't made it very far beyond the prototype stage. There is still a lot of development and improvement to be made. By the time these are largely commercial, that number should jump up a bit.

[Morgan Percy @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:17PM]

Actually methanol is pretty easy to get. I know where I get anywhere from 1 liter jugs to 50 gallon drums of it. Its commonly used as a anti-freeze.

[Travis @ Oct 3rd 2007 5:18PM]

Hun, I'll be right back I'm going to head down to 7-11 and fuel up the old iPod.

Seriously I'll stick with batteries thank you.

[Clinton Christian @ Oct 3rd 2007 6:55PM]

Yes. It's a nice CONCEPT... not that practical though... buying menthol to power it + you can't take this thing everywhere (schools, planes, etc...) + bulk + the fact that we're on the brink of wireless battery charges.... I couldn't see this thing going mainstream in portable devices like a pmp.

P.S - you thought sony batteries blowing up were bad, just wait till you see these things in action.