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Fuel Cell

laptops

Methanol Fuel Cells to Power Military Laptops

Under military funding, a Califorinia company named Ultracell has developed a 25W methanol fuel cell system capable of running a rugged laptop for 8 hours at a time. Using 250cc canisters of methanol (about the weight of a can of Coke), the system can convert the methanol to hydrogen and the hydrogen to electricity. More »

gas crisis

Genepax Unveils a Car That Runs on Water and Air

Running a car on water has been the holy grail for car manufacturers for some time now, but it appears that a Japanese company named Genepax may have pulled ahead of the competition with a prototype vehicle that runs entirely on water and air. Their new "Water Energy System (WES)," generates power by supplying water and air to the fuel and air electrodes using a proprietary technology called the Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA). The secret behind MEA is a special material that is capable of breaking down water into hydrogen and oxygen through a chemical reaction. More »

patents

Canon Patents Fuel Cells (For Cameras, Of Course)

A new patent application by Canon reveals that the company is interested in fuel cell technology for their cameras—or at least feel that they've developed an idea that no one else should use. Wired aptly compares the technology to inkjet printer cartridges, actually using multiple fuel cells to provide varying levels of current depending on camera function. These fuel cells can work alone or combine to tackle the especially power-hungry functions. But as you can see in diagram A, this news leaves the traditional Canon battery grip seething with anger. [Patent via Gadget Lab]

cars

Giz Test Drive: Student-Built Challenge X Fuel-Cell Car in NYC

GM lugged 17 environmentally friendly cars to New York—fittingly, to Tavern on the Green. The rain-soaked occasion was a display of Challenge X contenders, nearly identical 2005 Chevy Equinoxes modded by teams from schools across the US and Canada to be environmentally friendly, fuel efficient and/or low in emissions. University of Waterloo's hydrogen powered, zero-emissions, electric SUV earned the most awe from the crowd for its ambitious yet completely safe, student-built fuel-cell power plant. More »

22nd century clean

Fuel Cell Vacuum: Eco-Friendly Cleaning That Your Chiropractor Will Love

Obviously, a fuel cell powered vacuum is not anything we will have in our homes in the near future—but that doesn't mean designers are not thinking about the possibilities. This BacVac concept trades in the noisy electric motor and annoying cables for eco-friendly, cable-free, fuel cell, dirt-sucking power. Why they chose to sling the device over the user's shoulder is unclear, but one thing is for certain—if you tend to generate a lot of filth, it won't be long before you are reduced to some sort of suburban Quasimodo. [Continuum via Trends Now via DVICE]


fuel cells

DOT Says Fuel Cells Can Fly; FAA Still Afraid They Might Fry

The US DOT has approved transportation of methanol fuel cell cartridges in your baggage and carry-on luggage, according to one fuel-cell maker. If you're lucky enough to own a fuel-cell system, you'll definitely be able to fly with it come October, when the ruling goes into effect. But this ruling only allows you to carry the cells, not use them on the plane. I looked into it, and the FAA, a division of the DOT, is still apparently evaluating the fire hazards associated with in-flight operation. More »

green goodness

Hands On Batman Retrofuturetastic H2Go Fuel Cell-Powered RC Car

I always wanted an RC car that didn't eat batteries like Tom Cruise devours babies there's no tomorrow. Corgi's H2Go is fuel-cell powered RC car that just needs water and light—a solar panel powers its hydrogen station, which karate chops water into oxygen and hydrogen. The station tank takes about 2 minutes to refill, and a full charge (which takes seconds) nets you about 10 minutes of zoom zooming. And the design? By Luigi Colani, famous for his work with Ferrari and Alfa Romeo. I think it actually looks more like something out of The Big O than Batman, though Big O borrows heavily from the former. Either way, it's pure plastic art. More importantly, they work—some of the hand-built prototypes were a bit twitchy, but most of them were zipping around the track with no problems. More »

batteries not included

HydroPak Fuel Cell to Debut at CES 2008

The Skinny: The HydroPak replaces batteries and generators with cartridges that can sit on the shelf for ages, activated with water for 12 hours of power. They're quiet with zero emissions, and each $20 dry cartridge cranks out a lot more than any battery can—400 Watts through an AC outlet and two USB ports. The Catch: The device costs $400 and it's still in beta, although that's a lot cheaper than other fuel cell products. But it's a real product, rolling out first next week at CES, and samples will be available in February. [Millennium Cell (pdf)]

sooner please

Honda to Mass Produce Hydrogen Cars in 10 Years

While I desperately could use a new car (OK, it's fine and I barely drive, but my ego could certainly use it), I have a hard time buying into any technology in the auto market. Gas prices are only getting worse (as we run out of the stuff) and hybrids are a bandage where we need stitches or maybe an amputation. But for those who missed our original article, the Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell car drives like a dream, emits nothing but water vapor and can be leased by real people to actually drive. It's a viable product...but only 100 are on the market.

So when is Honda planning to mass produce their awesome fuel cell technology? Not for 10 years according to Honda President Takeo Fukui. Why? Or should we say, WHY???????????

More »

cellphones

Bacteria Powered Cell Phones Could Be a Disgusting Reality

People in developing countries may lack luxuries like electricity, but what they lack in modern conveniences they more than make up for in bacteria. Fortunately, a team of students from MIT has put two and two together and developed a microbial fuel cell (MFC) that harnesses electrons released by bacteria feeding on sugars, starches and other organic material. As you might have guessed, the output generated from these "BioVolt" batteries is less than ideal. In fact, you could probably charge your phone faster by shuffling your feet across the carpet. In it's current state it would take 6 months to charge a phone's battery, but developers insist that further refinements should increase the output 100 fold. [New Scientist]

hydrogen

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bike

It may look unassuming, but this bike by Shanghai Pearl Hydrogen Power Source Technology Co is pretty revolutionary. Behind the seat is a hydrogen fuel cell. So not only do you get a nice little motor to help propel you 15 mph for up to 60 miles when you're sick of pedaling, but you can also be fully recharged in about a half hour. This beats the hell out of regular electric bikes, which typically clock in at around a 3-hour recharge time. While this bike won't be much help to you if there aren't any refueling stations in your area, if there are one or two you can always just pedal there if you run out of hydrogen. Much easier than if your hydrogen car runs out of fuel. Currently it's priced at a very steep $2,600—however, once it hits mass production it should drop to around $500. [Ecotality]

one month battery

Samsung's Latest DMFT Fuel Cell for Laptops Given an Airing

We wrote about this DMFT fuel cellback in December, when it was just a mere glint in Samsung's eye. And here it is in its latest incarnation—looking a lot less clunky than it did eight months ago. More »

green fleet

2010 Olympics, Now WIth Hyrdrogen Buses

The 2010 Olympics in Vancouver will need a lot of transportation, so the B.C. government is assembling the largest collection of hydrogen fuel-cell buses on the planet. More »

vroooom

Ford Aiming to Break the Fuel Cell Car Speed Record

This is the Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999, the fuel cell-powered car that Ford is hoping will break some records at Bonneville. The green speeding machine just might be able to smash the world land speed record for a production-based fuel cell-powered vehicle. Phew, I'd like to see how they fit that on the trophy.

More »

gadgets

Rumor Smashed: Microsoft Not Selling Fuel Cell Chargers

Ignore that rumor about Microsoft making fuel cell rechargers for the Zune. The company's just said they're only ordering these things to give away at events such as CES, CTIA and AVN. What, you didn't see Microsoft's booth at AVN? It was pure debauchery. More »

gadgets

Horizon's Hydrocar: Toy Car Uses Next Gen Fuel Cells

Horizon's Hydrocar, the follow up to their H-Racer fuel cell toy, uses a next generation polymer electrolyte membrace based fuel cell. The tech is characterized by operating at lower temperature and lower pressure, making it a safer tech if it were to be used in full sized cars. That's good, because this little model only turns after it bumps into things. It ships next month for $79. More »

gadgets

Microsoft Ordering Fuel Cell Rechargers - For the Zune or the Zune Phone?

Although fuel cells aren't yet at the point where they can fit easily into devices like the Zune, the iPod, or cellphones, they are small enough to be used as rechargers. This is why Medis Technologies has produced the first of its Microsoft-branded fuel cell rechargers, and should be up to a capacity of 1 million units per month by the end of June. More »

cellphones

The $20 Disposable Fuel Cell for Gadgets

Hello, Brian here. More CTIA gems, back in the far left back corner of the show. Next to the hotdog stand. Yes. Here's 24/7, what Medis is claiming is the first disposable gadget fuel cell. It'll recharge a phone like a Treo with up to 20 hours of talk time. And it comes with a handful of popular connectors. I'd call it portable, but in a fanny or backpack. It's basically not pocketable unless you dress like Vanilla Ice. But how else you gonna charge your cellphones and gadgets far from AC/DC? Well, other than these Backupower phones. More »