Hitachi Squeezes Fuel Cell into PDA

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://news.zdnet.co.uk/0,39020330,39118469,00.htm' target='_blank'>http://news.zdnet.co.uk/0,39020330,39118469,00.htm</a><br /><br /></div>"The electronics giant is teaming up with a maker of disposable cigarette lighters to make methanol fuel cartridges for handheld computers. Japanese electronics giant Hitachi is teaming up with disposable-lighter maker Tokai to produce commercial fuel cells for handheld computers in 2005, the companies said this week. <br /><br />...Fuel cells generate electricity through a chemical reaction between oxygen and a fuel, such as hydrogen or methanol. The cells continue to produce electricity as long there is fuel. Hitachi, Toshiba, NEC and NTT DoCoMo have all announced plans to commercialise methanol-powered devices. Hitachi and Tokai said they have created a prototype cartridge about the size of an AA battery that contains methanol at a 20 percent concentration, and could power a PDA for six to eight hours. The companies are planning to raise the concentration to 30 percent by the time mass production begins, meaning longer cell life."<br /><br />Before you say "my Pocket PC already lasts six to eight hours!", stop and do the math. If they reach 30 percent concentration, that's about eight to ten and one-half hours. Still not terribly impressive, right? Now think about the size of a AA battery. I'm looking at the battery in my iPAQ 4150, and speaking from a volume point of view, I'd guess that there's about 2.5 times more volume inside that battery than in a AA battery. So now we're talking about battery life in the 20 to 27 hour range. Not bad at all! Looking at the size of the battery in the iPAQ 4350, we could see something in the 32 to 42 hour range. Wow! 8O And since we're all fans of seeing things get even smaller, I think one thing we'll see is devices that are thinner and smaller as less space is needed for the battery.<br /><br />One thing that concerns me, however, is the waste involved with this - I'd easily have to replace the cartridge four or five times a week, and throwing away that many plastic cartridges seems ludicrous. Or will they sell "home recharging kits"? Fuel cells seem like a great technology, but there's something to be said for the simplicity of an old fashioned Lithium Ion battery...

[Mike Temporale]

Weight would also be a factor here. Lithium Ion batteries would be heavier than a methanol. Sounds like something I would like to try out.

:)

[Paragon]

Pressurized, explosive containers.....on airplanes?! I have enough trouble explaining my phone is turned off on my XDA II and that my stylus isn't a leathal weapon. I sure hope they consider this in their designs.

Dave

[GO-TRIBE]

This sounds OK, but who wants to go back to batteries that you need to replace (instead of recharge)? If fuel cells could recharge when you connect them to the charger, then they would rock. Can't they just get some hydrogen out of the air or something? :lol:

[mirkazemisaman]

Can't they just get some hydrogen out of the air or something? :lol:

Or a :lol: breathing device :lol: for that matter.... it uses it's own power to breath and makes more than it consumes (to breath).

[BitBandit]

:( Umm, the AA-sized cartridge is only the methanol container size. You still have the actual fuel cell hardware that this 'gas tank' would plug into, thus making the entire thing about the size of a typical laptop battery, not a PDA battery.

This is still great news and at least offers hope for an alternative power scheme in the future.

[Jason Dunn]

:( Umm, the AA-sized cartridge is only the methanol container size. You still have the actual fuel cell hardware that this 'gas tank' would plug into, thus making the entire thing about the size of a typical laptop battery, not a PDA battery.

But if that's the case, then why is this article about Hitachi putting fuel cells in PDAs? If the entire thing is the size of a laptop battery, that doesn't sound very practical...they must have found a way to shrink the fuel cell hardware. And is the fuel cell hardware bigger than what's required for a normal Lithium Ion battery?

[dh]

:( Umm, the AA-sized cartridge is only the methanol container size. You still have the actual fuel cell hardware that this 'gas tank' would plug into, thus making the entire thing about the size of a typical laptop battery, not a PDA battery.

But if that's the case, then why is this article about Hitachi putting fuel cells in PDAs? If the entire thing is the size of a laptop battery, that doesn't sound very practical...they must have found a way to shrink the fuel cell hardware. And is the fuel cell hardware bigger than what's required for a normal Lithium Ion battery?
It would fit in that Hitachi G1000 just fine. :)

[crass]

More battery stamina is what I crave for. But I can see some serious environmental implications here if we are talking about non-rechargeable batteries. I do not feel that's the way to go.

[dmeineck]

The environmental aspects of this concern me - are harmful byproduct gasses etc emitted from this cell when they are used? Are they emitted after they have been disposed when the spent cell degrades?

Can the cell be re-used? An awful lot of waste if not.

[Falstaff]

This sounds OK, but who wants to go back to batteries that you need to replace (instead of recharge)? If fuel cells could recharge when you connect them to the charger, then they would rock.
Well they would eventually. The cradles would probably be redesigned and have water and methanol containers that you have to fill every so often. That would make sense at least. If that is the case, that the fuel cell is filled while in the cradle, that would mean you would have to fill teh cradle's liquid supply every few weeks. Also, the battery life. If you say, I already have 8 hrs with a battery 2 or 3 times the size. Well if all you have to do is swap an extremely cheap canister or hook the PDA up to a portable "refill station," then your battery life is basically unlimited. Fuel cells will decrease the size of PDAs without sacrifising battery life.

[dMores]

why don't they just pump up the concentration to 100%?
or would that be like running around with a grenade ?

[possmann]

Neat idea - and let's say that it is less dangerous than carrying a bick lighter on a plane... So you are at an office - off site - how are you going to recharge the PDA? Stick an additional fuel cell in there? WEll now we are back top the Palm days where I was carrying around several AAA's around with me - just in case.

And can you imagine the cost of these?

Recharging while having it plugged in is not an optoin any longer as the PDA now need FUEL and not ELECTRICITY...

Perhaps a hybird of the two?

[SandersP]

why don't they just pump up the concentration to 100%?
or would that be like running around with a grenade ?

the catalyst will quickly get clog up. Think of it like car exhaust catalytic converter. If your engine is burning oil or have bad spark plug, it'll cover the entire catalytic converter with grime and pretty much clog up the whole thing and the catalyst doesn't work anymore.

It's not exactly the same as in fuel cell, but it's similar. Too much alcohol will cover the entire catalyst with water, the end product of the reaction.

[dmacburry2003]

Hmmm... Now I can go around dropping my handheld just to watch it explode. Talk about disposable electronics.

[maximus]

Now I need a portable fuel cell to power my airconditioner.
Electricity was out for 10+ hours last night, and the temperature is 30+ centigrade. Cant sleep, cant watch TV, cant do anything ... luckily my trusty axim has 2 fully charged batteries ....

[wigglesworth]

Cool Idea! I like the idea of a fuel cell, but I would be concerned about throwing away the battery and the impact on the enviroment.
Still it is good to see new ideas being brought forward and I would definatly love the extra life I would get out of such a battery :D

[heliod]

Recharging while having it plugged in is not an optoin any longer as the PDA now need FUEL and not ELECTRICITY...

Perhaps a hybird of the two?

Well, an idea would be to have methanol pumps on gas stations for us to refill our PDAs... :wink:

[cholcomb]

The environmental aspects of this concern me - are harmful byproduct gasses etc emitted from this cell when they are used? Are they emitted after they have been disposed when the spent cell degrades?

Can the cell be re-used? An awful lot of waste if not.

The byproduct of fuel cells is water. Also, my understanding is that the fuel cells will be swapable with current batteries. This allows you to use the fuel cell when you need the extra charge, and use your current batteries for normal day to day use. Also, the fuel cells are supose to be re-fillable.

[Jonathan1]

Screw PDA's. LAPTOPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11 :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool:

Dang! I think I just wet myself :worried:

Seriously. Imagine a 16+ hour laptop.

[Jimmy Dodd]

Now I need a portable fuel cell to power my airconditioner.
Electricity was out for 10+ hours last night, and the temperature is 30+ centigrade. Cant sleep, cant watch TV, cant do anything ... luckily my trusty axim has 2 fully charged batteries ....

No fair complaining about it being hot when I spent all morning scraping ice off my windshield. :wink:

[lowair]

A 40 hour charge would be great, but I don't want to start having to carry around fuel cells again. One of the things that looked forward to when I moved to the 3600 from my IIIxe was the rechargable battery. I don't want to go through that again.

The fuel cell would be a nice part of a portable recharger that I could take with me in case I needed it.

Now with laptops, that would be great. I usually end up plugging my laptop in so that I do not have to use the limited battery, but with a fuel cell, I would feel a lot better knowing that I could just pop another power scource in. As long as it was cheap enough! :wink:

[Mike Temporale]

A 40 hour charge would be great, but I don't want to start having to carry around fuel cells again. One of the things that looked forward to when I moved to the 3600 from my IIIxe was the rechargable battery. I don't want to go through that again.

With 40 hours of use, would you really carry extra cells with you? Lets say you used your PDA for a solid 2 hours a day. A 40 hour charge would last 20 days! 8O I think you should be able to stop at the office or home and recharge it at least once in that time frame. :wink:

[lowair]

Absolutely!

I think that it looks like rechargeable rather than disposable is a commonly expressed desire.

If I can easily recharge it, then I want one for my Ipaq!

:D