Toshiba Fuel-Cell PMP to Launch in 2008
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 10. 4.07
You'd be hard-pressed to find a more ardent advocate of fuel cell technology in the world of electronics and high-end gadgetry than Toshiba. Having already announced the creation of a line of direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) concept audio devices a few years back, the Japanese company has now introduced a prototype PMP (portable media player) that integrates the fuel cell block with the device. Previous models had separated the player from the fuel cell block.
Company officials claim the cell runs on nearly 100% methanol, and that users will be able to refill it from the side face. With the fuel cell block, they estimate the player will last for about 10 hours - assuming continuous 1 seg playback. The vapor produced during playback will be evaporated "naturally" with the help of a filtration system - similar to the one designed by scientists from Taiwan's National Tsing Hua University. The device is expected to ship in mid- to late 2008. Now if only they can find a way to make this work for vehicles...
Via ::Engadget: Toshiba crams a fuel cell into PMP concept (blog)
See also: ::Toshiba's Laptop Fuel Cell: Patience is a Virtue
What is this an alternative to - a gasoline powered PMP? How about rechargable batteries?
This is a lot of R&D to produce a resource intensive product with a mis-matched energy source. The tech may be progressive, but the application is absurd.
Fuel cell is an excellent alternative to the conventional battery. Unlike your lithium-ion laptop battery, cradle to cradle goals are much easier meant in the design of a fuel cell, because you do not have very toxic contents that must be handled carefully.