New Uses for Fuel Cells on the Horizon

For some time, car makers have attempted to harness the power of fuel cells for use in commercial vehicles. But fuel cells may have a new calling, the Economist reports, to power portable electronic devices. Fuel cells combine oxygen and hydrogen to create electricity, and the original thought was to use the gas in the cell to generate power. However, the challenges arising from handling and storing hydrogen gas have led researchers to consider locking the hydrogen in methanol, a liquid, and decomposing the methanol within the fuel cell itself.

The process has turned out to be feasible. While the process does not generate enough energy to power a car, the device, known as a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), can be used as an alternative to small batteries, and actually lasts a lot longer. Toshiba announced the development of a line of DMFC concept audio devices a few years ago (Hat tip: Engadget), and has now revealed the prototype for a portable media player that houses the fuel cell in the player itself. Sharp has also developed a prototype DMFC that it seeks to use in music players, cell phones, and even laptop computers. Click here to see Toshiba's animated demonstration of how the DMFC works.

These innovations, however, by no means indicate the demise of fuel cell technology for use in motor vehicles. Just recently, Hyundai Motor signed an agreement with Seoul Metropolitan Government to provide the city with 7,748 eco-friendly buses by 2018, including fuel cell electric buses starting in 2013. For the latest information on fuel cell technology, check out the news from Fuel Cells 2000.