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FuelCell posts

Toshiba's DMFC fuel cell seen 'powering phones' at CEATEC (video)

by Darren Murph posted Oct 6th 2009 at 5:58PM

Toshiba has been promising the world a healthy dose of fuel cell chargers for what feels like ages now, with its most recent swearing happening just two months ago. Here at CEATEC, the company's wares were being trumpeted by KDDI. We witnessed a standard handset have its stock battery removed and replaced with an admittedly bulky fuel cell container. The booth attendant proudly juiced up the cell, clipped it onto the phone's rear and mashed the power button. Within seconds, the device booted up normally, and a handy level indicator on the charger itself kept us in the know on how much life was left. Or -- you know -- maybe the whole thing was just an elaborate hoax to fool English-speaking media into thinking this stuff was really nearing its commercial release. Have a look at a brief video just beyond the break, but try not to get your hopes up too high. No need in having your heart broken again unnecessarily.

Gallery: Toshiba's DMFC fuel cell seen powering phones at CEATEC

Continue reading Toshiba's DMFC fuel cell seen 'powering phones' at CEATEC (video)

Researchers propose $30 portable fuel cell charger, we don't hold our breath

by Tim Stevens posted Sep 30th 2009 at 9:29AM

If you believed all the fuel cell talk that's been bandied about in press releases over the years you'd have thrown away your plug-in chargers by now and started squirting alcohol into all your gadgets. Many promises have been broken, so please take this news of a supposed $30 fuel cell charger for cellphones and other mobile devices with a suitably large chunk of salt -- or some sodium-free flavor enhancer if your doctor has imposed such dietary restrictions. Scientists at the Industrial Technology Research Institute in Taiwan have created a prototype charger that runs on small tubes containing solid-state hydrogen, "plasticized" so that it is only released when mixed with water. The canisters are said to sell for $.30 a pop, leaving one researcher to say: "They could be sold at 7-Eleven." We want to write a skeptical response analyzing the feasibility of to such pricing but instead got distracted researching information about Taiwanese convenience stores. Did you know there are 4,807 7-Eleven franchise locations around Taiwan? Amazing!

Toshiba plans to launch fuel cell chargers in next two months, may be lying

by Paul Miller posted Aug 5th 2009 at 10:46AM

We'd love to believe you, Toshiba. Really, it would give us nothing but pleasure to sit expectantly for the next 60 days while you deliver wonderful, life-changing fuel cell technology to our front door. Unfortunately, we've been burned one too many times by your shattered promises, and we've developed a bit of a complex, to tell the truth. If you were being straight with us this time we suppose we'd be looking forward to a DMFC (direct methanol fuel cell) device capable of topping off small rechargeable devices like phones and PMPs, with extra juice just a cartridge replacement away. After that we could anticipate with bated breath your long awaited entry into directly DMFC-powered devices, claiming your rightful place as power generator for our phones and laptops. You tease.

Video: Antares DLR-H2 becomes planet's first fuel cell-powered aircraft

by Darren Murph posted Jul 9th 2009 at 8:57AM

Fuel cells may have lost some steam of late here in the automotive realm, but they're still going strong at 30,000 feet. Over in Hamburg, Germany, the Antares DLR-H2 has become the first piloted aircraft capable of taking off using only power from fuel cells, which means that it flies with absolutely no carbon emissions. The craft is based on the Antares 20E glider, which boasts a wingspan of just over 65 feet and has a cruising range of 466 miles over five hours. Currently, the propulsion system permits maximum flying speeds of around 105mph, but we're certain those behind the creation are gunning for more. As for its future? It'll be stationed at Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg where it'll act a "flying test platform" for the next three years, and afterwards, we fully expect to see this thing fetch a pretty penny on eBay. Action-packed video is after the break.

[Thanks, Mademoiselle Y]

Gallery: Antares DLR-H2 becomes planet's first fuel cell-powered aircraft

Continue reading Video: Antares DLR-H2 becomes planet's first fuel cell-powered aircraft

Carnivorous Clock eats bugs, begins doomsday countdown

by Thomas Ricker posted Jun 29th 2009 at 4:33AM

It's not enough that humans gave robots a place to congregate to plan our demise, now we've adapted them with the ability to extract fuel from the very nectar of life. All that innocent experimentation with fuel cells that run on blood has led to this, a flesh-eating clock. This prototype time-piece from UK-based designers James Auger and Jimmy Loizeau traps insects on flypaper stretched across its roller system before depositing them into a vat of bacteria. The ensuing chemical reaction, or "digestion," is transformed into power that keeps the rollers rollin' and the LCD clock ablaze. The pair offers an alternative design fueled by mice, another contraption whose robotic arm plucks insect-fuel from spider webs with the help of a video camera, and a lamp powered by insects lured to their deaths with ultraviolet LEDs. Man, this is so wrong it has to be right.

[Via Hack a Day, thanks Isaac]

Thinergy micro-battery retains charge for years, very easy to misplace

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Jun 25th 2009 at 2:44AM

As you know, it wouldn't be a typical day in the blog mines without some revolutionary battery news, and for today's fuel cell fix we'd like to present the Thinergy Micro Energy Cell. Developed by Infinite Power Solutions and consisting of "a new class of electronic component that bridges the performance gap between batteries and supercapacitors," the battery is downright lilliputian: about the thickness of a postage stamp, and half the area at its smallest. Since the battery requires a minimum of four volts to charge (with the ability to hold its charge for years) these guys are perfect for RFID cards and Big Brother-style thought-control implants. Tinfoil helmet squad: You've been warned!

[Via Red Ferret]

Hydrogen-powered Riversimple Urban Car unveiled, makes your hybrid green with envy

by Tim Stevens posted Jun 16th 2009 at 7:53AM

Smug about your 65 mpg Prius potential? Don't be. A little car from up-start Riversimple looks set to deliver the equivalent of 300 mpg, running on hydrogen and utilizing a network of small fuel cells to power four motors, one per wheel. The recently unveiled prototype manages 240 miles on just 2.2 lbs of hydrogen, has a top speed of 50 mph, seats two (reasonably) comfortably, and looks a little like a smiling, new-age Citroen 2CV -- but will hopefully be a more enjoyable to drive. That considerable range means that the relative lack of hydrogen distribution stations is less of a problem (until you can get one for your garage), and an estimated monthly lease price of just £200 (about $330) makes it potentially affordable. The only question now is availability of the cars themselves, and since nobody's talking about that you needn't worry about delaying that appointment with your local Toyota dealer.

[Via TG Daily]

Samsung's latest fuel cell prototype proves again that soldiers get the coolest toys

by Tim Stevens posted Apr 9th 2009 at 9:02AM

Back in 2006, a bright-eyed Samsung pledged a simple, methanol-powered dock that could power a laptop for a whole month, promised availability by the end of 2007, and then ran off to look for unicorns. Three years on an older, wiser Samsung is making some rather more modest statements about its latest generation of DMFC (Direct Methanol Fuel Cell), now set for release in 2010 -- only for the military. But, trendy requisition officers will have their choice of three colors: black, gold, or black. This 3.5 kilogram device is said to provide 1,800 watt-hours without a recharge, enough to power all a soldier's mil-spec gadgetry for three days. That's a far cry from the 30 days promised a few years back, but far better than the 10 kilograms of batteries you'd need otherwise. Want to get your hands on one of these? Start by heading to your local recruiter's office -- and don't mind the giant human microwave.

Continue reading Samsung's latest fuel cell prototype proves again that soldiers get the coolest toys

Mercedes-Benz's F-CELL Roadster is chock-full of win

by Darren Murph posted Mar 25th 2009 at 11:07AM

Mercedes-Benz has been toying with alternative-energy prototype vehicles for awhile now, but we're fairly certain this little gem is amongst the most bodacious. The obviously conceptual F-CELL Roadster hearkens back to M-B vehicles of old, though the engine is far from retro. Controlled with drive-by-wire technology and utilizing a joystick rather than a conventional steering wheel, this whip is (theoretically, at least) powered by a 1.2kW emission-free fuel cell system located at the rear. We're told that it could reach an enviable top speed of 15.5mph, and the 217 mile operating range definitely has us salivating. Frankly, this one's all about the design, and we can't implore you enough to give the read link a visit for lots more high-res action.

Toshiba misses another consumer fuel-cell launch date as expected

by Thomas Ricker posted Mar 23rd 2009 at 4:46AM

It's the end of March and you know what that means? No Toshiba fuel cell battery charger for you, that's what. Toshiba's launch of the first direct methanol fuel cell-based (DMFC) charger for your miscellaneous gadgets has been delayed "a few months" due to problems in acquiring unspecified components. Why do we care? Easy, DMFCs produce electricity via chemical reaction between methanol, water, and air. When the power runs out you just top-off the methanol or drop in a new cartridge and you're good to go. Also, this DMFC charger is just the first step towards DMFC batteries for cellphones and laptops that Toshiba says are still on track to launch before the end of March 2010. Not that we'd be surprised by further delay -- we've been hanging on to the promise of fuel-cell battery launches for years now... what's another slip.

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

by Tim Stevens posted Feb 25th 2009 at 7:29AM

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.

Toshiba plans to release fuel cell-based battery charger by end of March

by Ross Miller posted Jan 29th 2009 at 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.

World's smallest working fuel cell has high potential, low voltage

by Ross Miller posted Jan 23rd 2009 at 9:51PM

University of Illinois researchers have developed what they claim is the world's smallest working fuel cell, and it's certainly a good bit tinier than anything we've seen. The itty-bitty battery measures 3 mm x 3 mm x 1 mm and is comprised of just four layers: a water reservoir, a thin membrane, a chamber of metal hydride, and an assembly of electrodes. It can produce 0.7 volts and a 0.1 milliamp current for about 30 hours, with a newer model boasting similar voltage and 1 milliamp of current. That's not gonna juice your BlackBerry anytime soon, but scientists suggest it could be used for simple electronics and microbots. As for future application, we're hoping one day can power a fingernail-sized smartphone.

[Via Register Hardware]

Engadget's new double-wide HQ rolls in to Vegas

by Thomas Ricker posted Jan 5th 2009 at 7:24PM

Oh hells yes. We've arrived at CES in full nerd style. We sent Moms to Atlantic City so us kids could hijack the trailer all the way to Vegas baby, Las Vegas. And in true Kojak style we parked right in front of the central hall just outside the Las Vegas Convention Center. What better base to provide the best CES 2009 coverage on the Net? Check our first pass on the show floor after the break. With roots now planted and enough gadgets to keep us busy 7 by 24... we may never go home.

Continue reading Engadget's new double-wide HQ rolls in to Vegas

MTI Micro shows off universal fuel cell charger with removable cartridge

by Donald Melanson posted Dec 11th 2008 at 1:03AM

As you may or may not have noticed, the folks at MTI Micro seem to be plenty convinced that fuel cells will eventually power all manner of devices, and they're now taking things one step further with their new Mobion universal fuel cell charger that, yes, promises to provide power to any device in the entire universe (with a USB port). To add a bit more practicality to the equation, the charger makes use of removable (and disposable) cartridges, which each provide 25 watt-hours of power, or roughly enough to fully charge the average cellphone more than ten times. While it's only in prototype form at the moment, the company says that the final product should be available by the end of 2009, although it's not making any promises about a price just yet.

[Via Planetary Gear]