Sony shows off its latest fuel cells and cola-powered batteries

In two days the world's largest fuel cell exhibition, FC EXPO 2009, kicks off in Tokyo, and Sony will be there showing off the latest revision of its hybrid fuel cell technology. The system contains both a methanol fuel cell and a Li-on battery, enabling it to intelligently switch between power from the battery, fuel, or even both under high-draw circumstances. Sony will have two sizes on display: a portable model (above, with real leatherette lanyard) that could keep you talking on your celly for a week, and a heftier "interior" model that could do the same for a month. The company's even attached a bottle of methanol to a wireless speaker, resulting in infinite placement possibilities and a groovy light show to boot. If that weren't enough, the company will be demonstrating an updated, more efficient version of its sugar battery, which can be powered by plain 'ol Coca-Cola -- and you thought that stuff was only good for making your nephews run.

[Seightan @ Feb 25th 2009 7:41AM]

they need to make a urine battery cell

[hugoliva @ Feb 25th 2009 8:10AM]

I guess that if you're diabetic, it would work with the coca cola enabled one.

[nosgoroth @ Feb 25th 2009 7:41AM]

SUUUUUUUUUUPER!

[7on @ Feb 25th 2009 11:34AM]

Coupe de BOO!

[strider_mt2k @ Feb 25th 2009 7:42AM]

On first glance I thought that Sony had released a line of ultra-small AM/FM radios!

Fuel Cells are awesome stuff without a doubt.

Still part of me is disappointed...

[Aaron @ Feb 25th 2009 10:46AM]

Yes, fuel cells are great, but what is with everyone using methanol powered fuel cells?? Methanol is kinda nasty stuff, not to mention a fossil fuel...

[Mark @ Feb 25th 2009 11:59AM]

Dude, methanol is alchohol

[Bellzebub @ Feb 25th 2009 7:48AM]

That's all great, except for the following risks:

- Social consumption of methanol may result in blindness
- it's highly flammable

Both these factors mean that if we finally see wide scale adoption of fuel cells, the meths needed will only be sold in luminous purple with added chemicals to make it stink. Sounds grand.

I'm gonna keep holding out for hydrogen, or to sticking electrodes into oranges.

[dan @ Feb 25th 2009 8:09AM]

Try biting into a lithium battery...

[Geir E @ Feb 25th 2009 8:47AM]

- Social consumption of methanol may result in blindness
... And for what reason should people start to drink that now, after it beeing commercially available since they first made it from wood. Well, some stupid americans will eventually, and then sue everyone and their grandmothers for their own stupidity.

- it's highly flammable
... I'm sure you heard of a liquid called "gasoline" that is currently used for many things fuel cells will be used for in the future. And if you compare their flammability - you might notice the methanol is not the worst of the two.

[Bellzebub @ Feb 25th 2009 8:57AM]

Fuel grade methanol in the UK is already dyed and flavoured to prevent people drinking it. I've heard rumour that it is popular amongst people who are down and out.

Methanol is less flammable than gasoline, congratulations. Don't remember comparing the two though? Anyway, as a flammable liquid, it is still band in the US and UK as carry-on:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

Thanks for your comments.

[Nick @ Feb 25th 2009 4:20PM]

If you're waiting for hydrogen because you think its safer, you are highly mistaken, sir. Hydrogen is highly flammable (hence the desire for a hydrogen energy source) and burns at 2400K (2127 C). Personally, im not ready to carry that around in my pocket and hold it to my when i'm talking on the phone

[Allister @ Feb 25th 2009 7:51AM]

And here I was thinking it was a lemon zester...

[absinthe party @ Feb 25th 2009 7:57AM]

If you replace the Coca-Cola with Mountain Dew, do you get an extreme increase in power?

[acme @ Feb 25th 2009 8:37AM]

No, thats pepsi max your thinking.

[absinthe party @ Feb 25th 2009 8:54AM]

No, it was Mountain Dew. I'm talking about sugar content, not Ginseng and caffeine.

[Shakes @ Feb 25th 2009 1:26PM]

i think the mountain dew comment was a jokey joke.

[Rod @ Feb 25th 2009 8:59AM]

That's all very nice and all....but when can I actually BUY one?! They've been talking about this tech for what seems like a lifetime now.

[Major4Play @ Feb 25th 2009 9:07AM]

It's sad that at 99 years old your promised fuel cells still have yet to arrive.

[Rod @ Feb 25th 2009 9:16AM]

@Major4Play:

Well captain smarty-pants - the life expectancy of Swaziland is 31.84 years. And no country in the world has a 99 year life expectancy!

:)

[Z33LnR44L @ Feb 25th 2009 3:40PM]

LOL! captain smarty pants just got schooled XD

[MarkG @ Feb 25th 2009 8:04AM]

If by "...and you thought that stuff was only good for making your nephews run", you mean that sugar causes hyperactivity, that's a widely held misconception:

"Regardless of what parents might believe, however, sugar is not to blame for out of control little ones. At least 12 double blind randomised controlled trials have examined how children react to diets containing different levels of sugar. None of these studies, not even studies looking specifically at children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, could detect any differences in behaviour between the children who had sugar and those who did not. This includes sugar from sweets, chocolate, and natural sources. Even in studies of those who were considered "sensitive" to sugar, children did not behave differently after eating sugar full or sugar-free diets.

"Scientists have even studied how parents react to the sugar myth. When parents think their children have been given a drink containing sugar (even if it is really sugar-free), they rate their children’s behaviour as more hyperactive. The differences in the children’s behaviour were all in the parents’ minds."

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/337/dec17_2/a2769

[Rod @ Feb 25th 2009 8:59AM]

I remember the Cherryade drink from the 80's used to have more E numbers than you could shake a stick at. It would keep me wired for hours! I have graduated to Red Bull these days.

[gonintendo @ Feb 25th 2009 8:30AM]

No, but caffeine does :P

[acme @ Feb 25th 2009 8:46AM]

fail troll is fail

[MarkG @ Feb 25th 2009 8:41AM]

Wow, so helpfully correcting common misconceptions is trolling now?

:/

[MarkG @ Feb 25th 2009 8:41AM]

"No, but caffeine does"

True

;)

[Major4Play @ Feb 25th 2009 9:05AM]

While all your facts about sugar and hyperactivity are beyond reproach, I think you'll find that the caffeine in Coke makes anyone hyperactive even kids.

The worst part is the quality of writing on engadget "and you thought that stuff was only good for making your nephews run."

Run to the toliet or run to an english teacher ?

[Seneca @ Feb 25th 2009 9:40AM]

@Major4Play
Run as in operate, like cell phone, but people. I do agree, the sentence is a bit of a stretch of English language.
Also, to the above, caffeine does not cause EVERYONE to become wired. In people that truely have ADHD, it will calm them, as stimulants cause people with the disorder to be less hyper. I've known psychologist who have recommended that if you are having problems with an ADHD child and don't have his/her medicine available, mountain dew or coffee is better than nothing.

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Feb 25th 2009 11:01AM]

You're a Dork.

Coke is good for cleaning tree sap off your windows of your home or car, cleaning the top of the cabin's wood stove and generally great as a cleaner and to think YOU PEOPLE drink that garbage. PEPSI ALL THE WAY

[Deuche ex Machina @ Feb 25th 2009 8:18AM]

Whoa, this site isn't for rational thought. You'd best check that legitimate stuff at the door and focus on the perverse or surreal. How about a post that says that Apple invented these things 25 years ago and should sue? That should bring it back in line.

Maybe the author was simply referring to the high carbohydrate content of the sodas, with carbohydrates beign the primary source of a body's energy. Probably not, but maybe.

[Stubb @ Feb 25th 2009 8:43AM]

"(...)thought that stuff was only good for making your nephews run."

Did you just call my ass "your nephews"?

[Eric @ Feb 25th 2009 9:09AM]

A power source fueled by coca-cola, that would be fantastic! Coca-Cola is everywhere, even places where standard batteries can't be found. I have a backup charger with adapters for my portable gadgets, but depending on the strength of the power generated this could prove to be even better.

[granny down east @ Feb 25th 2009 9:21AM]

You are right! I found Coca-Cola on a hike in South Sinai, cooling in a water-filled camel stomach, hanging up in the shade. I think it's temperature was around 100 F. Sionce the temp outside was 115 F., the Coke was refreshing!
In all seriousness, I spend weeks in the boonies, and would appreciate a portable fuel cell.

[Hackettman @ Feb 25th 2009 9:59AM]

Cooooool!

[mrazzino @ Feb 25th 2009 10:38AM]

http://www.theonion.com/content/video/sony_releases_new_stupid_piece_of

[Atdt1991 @ Feb 25th 2009 10:56AM]

Whenever I read about fuel cell batteries intended for laptops, I wonder whether there is waste/pollution, and where that is going. I don't want the equivalent of a combustion engine in my home, pollutin' up my atmospheres.

If it doesn't work that way, I am surprised I haven't seen anything addressing the differences between traditional methanol consumption and battery usage.

[Paul @ Feb 26th 2009 1:31AM]

Watervapour and heat, that is what comes out. Oh, and CO2...

[Wwhat @ Feb 25th 2009 11:59AM]

How about a pressure-powered cell which you fill with diet coke and add a menthos for 2 hours charge.
Someone mail this to mythbusters pls, it has to be tested :)

[Max @ Feb 25th 2009 12:46PM]

I'm all for any piece of technology that comes with its own lanyard. I'll take three!

[ManekiNeko @ Feb 25th 2009 12:47PM]

Warm... leatherette. Warm... leatherette.

[Andrew @ Feb 25th 2009 6:47PM]

Oh neat! Mini keychain cheese graters!

[darkmax @ Feb 26th 2009 1:23AM]

what's with the language in the read link? I tried very hard to make sense of anything on it....

[Babau @ Feb 26th 2009 1:41AM]

Just let me buy one already!