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Fuel cell-powered mobile phones may be on
the cards
Richard Wilson on the ElectronicsWeekly.com website on May 18 reported
that a fuel cell developer is looking to use fuel cells in mobile handsets.
The following is a summary of the article:
US fuel cell developer MTI Micro has entered into a partnership with mobile
phone firm Samsung Electronics which could see fuel cells used to power
commercial handsets for the first time.
The firm's Mobion direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) technology has been
chosen to power a series of prototypes designed for Samsung's mobile phone
and mobile phone accessories. The advantages of fuel cells over today's
battery cells are potentially longer runtimes and instant recharging.
According to Peng Lim, president and CEO of MTI Micro:
"Our goal is to make Mobion a standard power source used for powering
all types of mobile products, and under this agreement, our work with
Samsung on mobile phones and accessory applications will be a major step
in achieving that goal."
Last year another US-based fuel cell firm, PolyFuel claimed to have passed
a milestone in the development of direct methanol cells with a device
operating for more than 5,000 hours. This, the firm said, is beyond the
minimum necessary to commercialise fuel cells, which must last for between
2,000 and 3,000 hours, equivalent to the life of a rechargeable battery.
According to market watcher, Frost & Sullivan the market for micro
fuel cells for consumer electronic devices should reach
approximately 80 million units by 2012.
http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Articles/
2006/05/18/38692/Fuelcellpoweredmobilephonesmaybeonthecards.htm
Source: Wireless
Institute of Australia, Richard Wilson, ElectronicsWeekly.com
website via vk7wia news
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