Originally published February 7 2006
Hydrogen fuel cells: Coming to a small electrical device near you
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Hydrogen fuel cells are, arguably, the most efficient and cleanest energy source being developed, but some experts predict that the first applications may not be in cars as everyone thinks, but rather in MP3 players, such as Toshiba's two players that run on DMFC fuel cells, using methanol as fuel.
Munich - Fuel cells are being called the energy sources of the 21st century.
And despite what some people think, the first commercial applications for the technology are less likely to be in your car than in your briefcase or jacket pocket.
For the cellphones and laptops of the future, the batteries may run on alcohol or hydrogen - and if they run out of juice, you simply refill them.
Japanese electronics maker Toshiba launched two MP3 players in October that run on DMFC fuel cells, using methanol as fuel.
Fuel cells will need to offer significantly longer power lives Canon has announced plans to operate its printers, cameras, cellphones, and MP3 player using so-called PEM fuel cells.
Unlike many of their competitors, Canon's developers have cast their lot with hydrogen energy sources.
Energy generation using fuel cells is based on the detonating gas reaction between hydrogen and oxygen.
A fuel cell is used to harness this reaction in a controlled, explosion free manner.
Polymer membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are created with gaseous hydrogen, while direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) covert methanol directly into fuel within the cell.
A third system comes in the form of PEM fuel cells that are tanked with methanol to be converted into hydrogen and carbon dioxide in a so-called reformer.
According to the IBZ, fuel cell phone and cameras have been announced by many other electronics firms in the past, including Sony, NEC, NTT DoCoMo and Hitachi.
Practically speaking, the experts estimate that the fuel cell must offer three times the power for a unit with the same dimensions.
And that may well be the amount of power that the next crop of power- hungry applications like television over cell phones will require.
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