Toshiba plans to release fuel cell-based battery charger by end of March
By Ross Miller 
posted Jan 29th 2009 2:33PM
posted Jan 29th 2009 2:33PM
Toshiba's finally ready to enter the fuel cell market, or at least it's saying as much. The company announced this week that it'll release a direct methanol fuel cell-based (DMFC) battery charger this fiscal quarter, before the end of March. Toshiba also said it'll launch DMFC packs for cellphones and laptops in the following fiscal year that begins in April. Details are pretty scant at the moment, and given the technology's past track record, we wouldn't be surprised if it missed the upcoming deadline. Here's hoping our skepticism is unfounded.
Is that girls face made by Toshiba? Looks kinda fake.
yeah her face reminds me of a real-doll haha
she looks like a squirrel to me
Perhaps she's the reason HD-DVD failed.
Looks kind of like a gray (the aliens).
It's a fembot... beware!
that gynoid has the realest hands I've ever seen! it's like looking at the anti-uncanny valley.
note to photogs: shiny skin + model makeup + just-out-of-focus = unflattering subject.
It's obviously the camera and her makeup creating that look. But i find all you ignorant white men say stupid things about all the asian models on this site.
if you ask me, it looks like shes made from wax
That's great news indeed, but there's something wrong with the picture...
Methanol?
So I could pass gas to charge my phone? HAHA
Only if your farts ferment on the way out.
That'd be methane, not methanol...
Fermenting could be part of the technology in the charger!
how bout menthol?
that woman in the background looks like a cyborg
Oh My God, it's a... A Fembot!
I, for one, welcome our fembot overlords.
you guys have been watching Austin Powers all night, haven't you?!
Her make-up makes her look really plasticly. If her rouge was redder it would not look so bad.
But just why would you buy a fuel-cell charger? Doesn't that mean we would all still be using our Li-Polymer battery on our cellphones?
its powered comes from the anger of 1000 years.
no attractive model, no deal !
I mean come on! whats that?!
Did I read that wrong - or are they coming out with a charger this quarter, when the DMFC packs needed to take advantage of that charger on not coming out until next year? What exactly will I be charging in the meantime?
I've yet to understand the benefits of a fuel cell for consumer electronics. I can carry around vials of alcohol that I can't drink instead of batteries? Yay?
I don't get how this is efficient - the fuel cell charger demonstrated at CES was pretty huge and it only gave you 5-10 charges from a single cartridge which currently costs $20, which is pretty ridiculous. I realize that this new Toshiba DMFC will be smaller, but I doubt it'll be much more efficient, and even if cartridges come to cost less than $5, unless they can deliver something like 40-50 charges of, say a 1500 mAh cell phone battery, nobody will go through the trouble of spending their money on something like this. Why not just buy one of the AA chargers, which can deliver 2-5 charges and you can use rechargeable batteries, or just get an extra cell phone battery - easier than having to buy cartridges.
man I hate it when they're so plasticky, oh and the cell phone sucks too.
naught anothr hi skool teacher($32,000 yr) on engadget again, trying to korect grammar n punktuation after he realizes he has no comeback. i know da truth hurtz.
Wow,people actually still pay for music?itunes.,?isnt that an apple thing.So a music phone that will "guaranteed "not replace a video ipod. So far has no car integration steering wheel control ,no remote control docks, I should stop criticizing. But the reality is as a consumer people will still be looking to see,which phone can truly replace a true widescreen touchscreen video ipod.As long as the masses on a global scale are still paying upwards of $300-$400 for apple touch, best pre might do is second place or the first loser.So pre users will carry pre in left pocket n video ipod in right pocket,how cool.Remember we were all jizzing our pants just 3 months ago,when we first saw storm. So not till pre is released(pending clear patent violation lawsuit) customer approved,tried n tested,can we cast our vote . Here in global depression stricken 2009, success is measured by 1 thing n nothing else,SALES.I'm sure allllll CEO's would agree.Once again ,I have spoken n silenced all.Bring on the hate mail.,dee deee deee!!!!!!!
Does it come with the android in the background?
Yes, Loocas, for $20 you get a fuel-cell charger AND a life-sized android with facial expressions and what appear to be working fingers. But it's mostly about the fuel-cell charger.
I wouldn't mind showing her my fuel cell :p
Indeed. Well put lad.. Well put..
Hey guys learn to respect woman and stop thinking of Asian women as timid little girls with no voice. If you weren't so sheltered you know otherwise. But i guess you can't see the world from yo momma's basement can you?
There aren't more pictures of the girl in the read link, don't even bother =/
Way back in high school, I did a report on fuel cells and way back then toshiba was planning to announce fuel cells for laptops within a couple years. I'll believe it when I see it.
given that Toshiba don't seem to be able to put decent batteries in their laptops, they need to do something else!