RSSNokia: No Fuel Cell Powered Phones Yet
By Ed Oswald | Published March 4, 2005, 11:42 AM
Finnish phone maker Nokia scrapped plans for handsets to be powered by fuel cells, according to press reports Friday. The company originally had said it was expecting to bring fuel cell powered phones and accessories to the market within a year or two, but the technology is not "mature" enough, Nokia says.
Nokia's fuel cell technology uses methanol. However, the company was unable to find a consistent supplier of the gas, and current air traffic regulations prohibit methanol on board flights unless it is in protective packaging.
A fuel cell phone would eliminate the need to charge the phone using an electrical cord, rather the user would refill the phone similar to the way a refillable lighter is used.
A spokesman for Nokia said that the technology is still promising and the company "will follow it closely."
The announcement may come as a surprise to some, as Nokia in mid-2004 demonstrated a hands-free headset that was methanol-powered. At that time, the company said the technology was mature enough and a commercial release could not be more than two years away.
maybe it eliminates the problems associated with battery disposal.
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I can't think of any reason why I'd want to refill my phone like a lighter. See, lighters blow up....I don't put a lighter next to my ear for 20-40 minutes, and I most certainly would not give a lighter to my kid for emergencies.
I should read up more on the concept. Does it last longer or something? I have no problem charging my cell for a few hours. And, well - I'd rather be able to charge my phone whenever, wherever than have to stop at a 'phone gas station', know what I mean?
Can anyone shed some logic on this?
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Neoprimal, exactly what I thought when I read the article.
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Well it is debatable if direct methanol fuel cells would have more battery life...currently the technology is not available to power a cell phone and keep the battery the same size with DMFC's...they just don’t have the power...one of the main reasons there is interest in this area though is due to the fact that it would enable companies such as Nokia, the ability to create new radical design with cell phones. This is because converting DMFC's would allow you to eliminate the need for a battery cell and also its bulky shape. Methanol fuel cells on the other hand have the ability to take on any shape, unlike a conventional battery. I also don’t think you would really have to worry much about the phone combusting in your ear...they will have to make the phone safe for travel on planes so I’m sure the FAA wont let that just slip by...
-Chris
On a side note...Nippon Telegraph and Telephone has developed a micro polymer-electrolyte fuel cell that it hopes to commercialize within the next 3 to 4 years...which they say would have the needed 160 milliwatts per square centimeter to power a phone...happy times ahead
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Neoprimal, its just another alternative to charging the phone. I think its a great idea if engineered right.
No you don't need to stop at a special phone gas station moron (read the article) instead you buy a small can that would probably last the phone lifetime.
About the phone exploding when you put it to your ear... Do you bang your CRT TV/Monitor with a baseball bat ?
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