January 27, 2004

By: Yen Hung
Website: http://www.1st-in-cell-phones.com

Toshiba announces world's smallest direct methanol fuel cell

Toshiba Corporation, the world leader in bringing fuel-cell technology to portable products, today announced a prototype of highly compact, direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) that opens the way to the use of DMFC as an alternative power source to recharge batteries for personal devices as small as cell phones, digital still cameras, PDAs and mobile TVs. The new DMFC will provide a greater freedom for users of those handheld equipments to easily recharge the batteries in a mobile environment, whether they are away from home on business travel or out on a beach. The new DMFC is small enough to fit in a carry-on bag or even in a jeans pocket as a portable power source.

Toshiba led the industry in announcing the first DMFC for portable PCs in March this year. The latest announcement confirms that the company remains a step ahead of its competitors in developing the potential of fuel cells. Toshiba expects to commercialize DMFC for handheld products within 2005, while DMFC for portable PCs is targeted for launch within 2004.

Toshiba's new DMFC for portable devices realizes an average output of 1 watt per hour for approximately twenty hours of operation as total on a single 25cc fuel cartridge of high concentration methanol.

Also See: free cellular phones.

Author Notes:

Yen Hung contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.1st-in-cell-phones.com.  A cellular phone industry resource featuring articles, comparisons and reviews of cellular phone and service plans.