fuel cells

Toshiba Releases Methanol-Powered Fuel Cell Gadget Charger

Ariel Schwartz — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:42:33 -0400

Gadget lovers, rejoice: Toshiba has finally released its long-awaited portable fuel-cell charger for mobile devices. But at $320, the methanol cartridge-powered Dynario fuel cell isn't cheap.

Hydrogen Fuel Gets a Boost on Long Island

Ariel Schwartz — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:56:58 -0500

The Long Island town of Hempstead has opened a hydrogen fueling station less than 24 hours after San Francisco unveiled three plug-in hybrid (PHEV) fueling stations.

First Gadget-Charging Fuel Cell Isn't a Taste of the Future

Kit Eaton — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 05:49:24 -0500

Fuel cells will one day power your car, your laptop, camera and cellphone, but until the day the tech matures enough to become fully integrated, a likely stopgap will be gadget power-booster devices like this new one from Medis Technologies.

Renewable Energy Solar Cells Ain't So Renewable

Kit Eaton — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:29:27 -0500

Sanyo's just announced that it's going to build a new factory in Japan dedicated to solar photovoltaic cell manufacture--the company plans to double its solar cell output to meet rising demand as the world slowly catches on to the idea of renewable energy. But in the light of some thinking about the rarity of chemical components, perhaps Sanyo actually shouldn't be planning a project like this at all.

Goodbye Boxy: Why Future Gadgets Will Be Curvy

Kit Eaton — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:24:45 -0500

In the natural world straight lines are a fairly rare thing. Yet we humans love imposing the hard angles on our constructions and, of course, our gizmos. In the near future this will change, our gadgets will all be curvaceous and sleek--here's why.

New Hydrogen Production Method Means Bye-Bye Oil?

Kit Eaton — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:26:46 -0500

Hydrogen's promise as an incredibly useful fuel has long been known. It's light, clean, non-polluting, and not overly difficult to produce. But researchers have recently cracked a new more effective method for producing the gas that's likely to unlock its potential completely.

Why The Reign of Conventional Batteries Is Nearly Over

Kit Eaton — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:28:06 -0500

As usual this holiday season millions of kids will be opening gifts that a caring parent must crack open immediately to jam in batteries before the playing can begin. Since its invention in 1800 as the "Voltaic pile" by Alessandro Volta and subsequent dubbing as "the battery" via Ben Franklin, trillions of the tiny chemical powerhouses have been used similarly. And then discarded, to spill their spent chemical loads into the ground. But the reign of the conventional battery is nearly over.