StuartW
07-23-2000, 09:56 AM
The continuing development of fuel cells as replacements for conventional batteries, has led to some interesting announcements.Xybernaut and DCH Technology are developing a wearable PC which will run on hydrogen fuel cells, which have operating times of 12 to 24 hours.
Meanwhile Motorola together with Los Alamos National Laboratories have developed a fuel cell based on a methanol/water reservoir the size of a pen, and an energy density 10 times that of conventional batteries. (Before some joker comments - ETHANOL is the alcohol you drink, METHANOL is the alcohol that will turn you blind!!)
Motorola claim the product is only a few years away from the market place. Manhattan Scientific are also working on a methanol/water powered cell, with a claimed specific energy of 300 watt/hours per kilo of fuel.
Sounds like the conventional dry cell, and button batteries are on the way out.
Meanwhile Motorola together with Los Alamos National Laboratories have developed a fuel cell based on a methanol/water reservoir the size of a pen, and an energy density 10 times that of conventional batteries. (Before some joker comments - ETHANOL is the alcohol you drink, METHANOL is the alcohol that will turn you blind!!)
Motorola claim the product is only a few years away from the market place. Manhattan Scientific are also working on a methanol/water powered cell, with a claimed specific energy of 300 watt/hours per kilo of fuel.
Sounds like the conventional dry cell, and button batteries are on the way out.