MTI Micro trumpets fuel cells for mobile devices... again

If you'll recall, we first got wind of MTI Micro's fuel cell endeavors way back in 2004, but nearly four years later the firm is still at it and hoping to have something rolled out by 2009. Reportedly, the company has conjured up a few working prototypes which utilize methanol and are built to power small gizmos such as cellphones, handhelds and even DSLRs. Recharging the cells would be as simple as "squirting in some new fuel or putting in a new cartridge," and MTI has even created a way to recycle the water within the unit. Still, it's not handing out any specifics about what products it plans on churning out first, but given that we've been waiting on these things for quite some time already, it's not like we can't twiddle our thumbs for another dozen months or so.

[Via ElectronicsWeekly]

[vaiyac @ Apr 7th 2008 9:10AM]

Craeezee! Just came across this news in three different websites!
Makes you think how few of the 'stories' to be told are actually left in this world which is getting smaller by the minute! :-O

[NHAnimator @ Apr 7th 2008 9:23AM]

I want a 200MPG, corn-on-the-cob-based, zero-emission Hummer and I want it NOW! And it better be cheap! This is America, damn it!

[Ysleiro @ Apr 7th 2008 9:25AM]

Somebody please explain why anybody would want to engage in more "fuel" consumption?

Or maybe I'm not getting something here.

Isn't the Earth being raped enough already?

[Kevin @ Apr 7th 2008 2:08PM]

In this case, the fuel mentioned is methanol, which is quite different from the much more oft-used gasoline/petrol used in your car. This is a fuel used in top of the line racing circuits, but otherwise, remains out of vehicles. But the point here is not the idea that it is using fuel, but rather, the fact that fuel cells are reported to have far longer energy outputs compared to that of battery counterparts. Instead of a 5 hour battery charge on your iPhone, now you've got a 4-week long charge on your Razr.

[Barbaric @ Apr 7th 2008 10:25AM]

Fuel cells are basically batteries, that can be recharged by adding more fuel, in this case methanol, instead of completely replacing the battery or plugging it in to the wall, which is very inefficient.

Most batteries for small devices are 3 to 5 volts. If you ever felt that transformer plugged into the wall that you recharge your cell phone with, for example, its usually warm. That heat is wasted energy. American electricity supply is 120 volts, in most residential situations.
Fuel cells are much more energy efficient, thats why they are being pursued.

[jake @ Apr 7th 2008 1:33PM]

@Barbaric
I think Kevin's answer is more accurate. Fuel cells are being chosen because they have much higher energy density than batteries. This means they can run for a much longer time on the same size cell. You can figure this out just by looking at electric cars, which have horrible range b/c of the low energy density of batteries compared to fuel. Methanol is a good candidate because it is liquid at room temp and has a better energy density order of magnitude greater than highly compressed hydrogen.

In terms of efficiency, direct-methanol fuel cells, the same type MTI Micro is using, has an efficiency of only 20-30% for the cell and 10-20% for the system; that's horrible compared to the minimum average efficiency of a transformer has to be greater than 84% to get energystar qualification for >49W devices and >49% for 1W devices. So the reason is not efficiency.

[Wilsone @ Apr 7th 2008 11:00PM]

Earth is actally being raped much more with batteries, which contain various acids, hazardeous chemicals and if you use the alcaline ones (not accus) you have to throw them away after being used. That's much more polluting than just using some harmless alcohol :)

[Wwhat @ Apr 7th 2008 10:25AM]

It seem obvious, taken the time they are announcing these things, that there is some insurmountable practical issue with them, and I'm curious as to what that issue is.
I guess it's time for some wiki/google searches, but I don't have the time right now though.

[Ubuntu 7.10 WindowsXP @ Apr 7th 2008 11:16AM]

Regardless I don't want to have to say the phrase, "I have to stop at a gas station to refuel my phone."

[Kevin @ Apr 7th 2008 2:31PM]

Agreed. However, as it is now you don't go buy a refill for your zippo at the gas station (though i'm sure some offer it in their mini-marts). You go get butane lighter liquid or that Propane tank refill at your local supermarket or Walmart. And in the small quantities of fuel that one could fit into a cell phone or digital SLR camera, one could buy a large bottle at the store and potentially not need to go back for a year or two to get more.

[Mark @ Apr 7th 2008 12:42PM]

OPEC wants in on the cell phone market now? Can they give us even more reasons to hate them?

[paul34 @ Apr 7th 2008 1:14PM]

MTI Micro, not a Middle Eastern thug-oil cartel. You may have missed that.

Or maybe you believe that all liquid fuel is gasoline, and that it all comes straight out of the ground as 91 octane gasoline from Saudi Arabia. Also, America is the only country in the world (that matters).

I love my fellow country people.

[thedesolate1 @ Apr 7th 2008 1:25PM]

YAY! more exploding battery hotness.. I can't wait to sue.. .lol

[darkTyphoon @ Apr 7th 2008 1:51PM]

Methanol can be produced in a environment friendly manner without the use of fossil fuels. Case in point, another name for Methanol is "Wood Alcohol" as you can make it as a derivative of pine. If you have any further questions about how methanol is produced check out the wiki entry here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methanol.

[Adam Zey @ Apr 7th 2008 5:52PM]

What about that news a while back about 10x more efficient Lithium Ion batteries? If those hit the market, miniature fuel cells would become useless.

[benman2233 @ Apr 7th 2008 9:26PM]

God dam just what we need, somthing else that runs on fule. I can see it now, countrys waring with each other, not for fuel for vehicles, but for there GOD DAM PHONES!?!?!?!?!?!??!??!!??! COME ON.... anyways, this idea is just gonna go by, no one will go for it, or some big company like LG will get it, and the itll be the new thing, everyone stoppin at the local 7-11 to fill up there god dam cell phone, were all gonna be complaining about the cell phone gas prices, its gonna be the year 2000s all over again.this is goina be fuckin-A right.