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Supply-chain issues are still keeping fuel cells aways from customers -- for now.

Cellular phone manufacturer Nokia claims fuel cell powered phones are only a couple years away. Fuel cell powered phones are expected to be more environmentally friendly than traditional lithium-ion powered phones. It appears the technology is readily available but supply issues prevent mass availability of fuel cell powered phones according to Nokia’s head of research, Tapani Ryhanen.

Various manufacturers have developed fuel-cell technologies for portable devices. DailyTech previously reported Toshiba was researching the possibility of a fuel cell powered laptop while Samsung was researching fuel cell powered portable media players. Fuel cells are expected to power cars too, though Toyota and GM have parted ways in fuel cell development.

Nokia also announced today that it is developing a more efficient rival to Bluetooth in the form of "Wibree." And just last week, the company took the wraps off its new N95 smartphone.

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By fishmonger12 on 10/3/2006 3:18:24 PM , Rating: 3
I thought we were trying to move away from using fossil fuels and towards using cleaner energy sources... like nuclear power.




RE: .
By PrinceGaz on 10/3/2006 3:25:08 PM , Rating: 5
Exactly. I want a nuclear powered phone. You'd never have to worry about recharging or refilling it in your lifetime.


RE: .
By UserDoesNotExist on 10/3/2006 5:01:58 PM , Rating: 5
+1.

Sure, it might make me sterile, but I'll be a sterile person with a NUCLEAR PHONE.


RE: .
By Jedi2155 on 10/3/2006 11:03:49 PM , Rating: 2
I guess we won't have to worry about that Microwave radiation then!


RE: .
By KaiserCSS on 10/3/2006 3:34:51 PM , Rating: 2
You seem to be forgetting the impracticalities of wide-spread nuclear-powered devices. Not only will extreme security and health measures be required, but can you imagine if said device fell into the wrong hands? Personally, I agree that nuclear power, especially the safer next-gen reactors on the drawing boards, are needed badly in the US to stem the use of fossil fuels. But that doesn't mean I want a nuclear-powered laptop or car.


RE: .
By FITCamaro on 10/3/2006 4:09:11 PM , Rating: 2
I think he was joking.......I hope.

I'm all for nuclear power here in the states. But yeah I'm not really looking to hold a nuclear powered phone next to my face. Brain tumor anyone? Nothing but power plants, satellites, space probes, etc will ever use nuclear power.


RE: .
By therealnickdanger on 10/3/2006 3:35:11 PM , Rating: 3
That would be cool, but how about solar/kinetic? I know that the kinetic part would do little or nothing to power a laptop, but how about a phone? LOL, I could just see people at the coffee house shaking their laptops in the air...


RE: .
By KaiserCSS on 10/3/2006 3:39:06 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
That would be cool, but how about solar/kinetic? I know that the kinetic part would do little or nothing to power a laptop, but how about a phone? LOL, I could just see people at the coffee house shaking their laptops in the air...


May I direct your attention to this clever device here?
http://scientificsonline.com/product.asp?pn=303802...

:P


RE: .
By FNG on 10/3/2006 3:42:19 PM , Rating: 2
Hot stuff! Now I can crank my phone and my lappy!

http://laptop.media.mit.edu/


RE: .
By bldckstark on 10/4/2006 12:29:43 PM , Rating: 3
You can only crank one thing at a time, and with all the Pr0n out there, there will be only so much time available to power the notebook!


lol
By S3anister on 10/3/2006 2:42:35 PM , Rating: 2
now we can have exploding fuel cell laptops!

lmao, but seriously this will actually be a pretty cool technology. I just wonder if it gives any signifigant battery life boost over traditional li-ion batteries.




RE: lol
By S3anister on 10/3/2006 2:46:15 PM , Rating: 2
and by advantage over Li-ion, i mean longer life or much smaller batteries that give you the same battery time before a recharge.


RE: lol
By s12033722 on 10/3/2006 2:50:49 PM , Rating: 2
Remember that fuel cells will not require a recharge, but rather a refueling. You will have to fill up the gas tank.


RE: lol
By Chadder007 on 10/3/2006 3:00:18 PM , Rating: 4
I don't like the idea of having to re-fuel my cellphone or laptop at all.


RE: lol
By udontknow on 10/3/2006 3:07:55 PM , Rating: 2
I dont like the idea of recharging my cell phone or laptop... But its not like we have much of a choice on that matter now do we?


RE: lol
By PrinceGaz on 10/3/2006 3:19:39 PM , Rating: 1
So long as your cellphone and laptop are switched off when you refuel them, there should be little danger of a fire (just like they should be turned off when you fill up your car).

The main problem I see is that it'll probably be a bit awkward trying to refill them from the pumps. Even if they come with a funnel to reduce spillage, if you're not careful you could end up with half a gallon of petrol of your laptop or phone.


RE: lol
By FNG on 10/3/2006 3:40:19 PM , Rating: 1
Good call. I am sure that there will be an adaptation law passed in California by the govenator that will bring it all together... As an added bonus gas stations will not have to worry about safety stickers because when you go up to the pumps the phone is already supposed to be off (little explosion stickers).


RE: lol
By Pops on 10/3/2006 3:16:31 PM , Rating: 2
They may develop a device that you plug into the wall, add a few drops of water, then get a small amount of hydrogen to refuel a cell.

If it produces it on a small scale it should be safe and it would only take a couple seconds to "fill up" your fuel cell.


RE: lol
By Chillin1248 (blog) on 10/3/2006 3:35:34 PM , Rating: 2
I hate to bring this up, but what happens if you drop the hydrogen fuel-cell? I take it airlines are not going to accept cell-phones onboard shortly.

-------
Chillin


RE: lol
By Hypernova on 10/3/2006 4:45:22 PM , Rating: 3
That reminds me of Terminator 3, if you know what I mean.


RE: lol
By Spoelie on 10/4/2006 9:09:57 AM , Rating: 3
Probably not at all, we're not burning up hydrogen here, but recombining. With electrolysis, you can seperate the gases again. So in essence, with the right fuel cell, you just recharge it like you would a normal cell phone battery.


By TacticalTrading on 10/3/2006 4:54:20 PM , Rating: 2
I am sure they have some really cool stuff,

But it is kind of hard to believe that a Fuel Cell powered phone will be easier and more convient to "recharge" than plugging in is today.

Longer run times are great, but that is counter balanced by the convience of "refueling"