AfterDawn: News

Nokia drops fuel cell plans - for now

Finnish mobile phone giant Nokia has said it has dropped plans to develop mobile phones with fuel cells at least for a few years. The company has said the sector is not yet mature. Nokia's Matti Naskali said the firm had not abandoned the technology, saying: "Fuel-cell technology is promising and Nokia continues to follow it closely." A fuel cell is refilled like a lighter, instead of re-charged and would deliver more standby time increased power for resource hogging applications such as video.

Tero Ojanpera, head of Nokia's research centre, demonstrated a Nokia mobile phone running on methanol in 2004. The fuel cell combined the methanol with air to produce power. The prediction then was that it would take only about two years to see fuel cells in mobile phones. Although now several issues with the technology has dented the firms hopes. Methanol is in fact flammable so current air transportation rules prohibit its carrying on an aircraft without special packaging.



Motorola, Toshiba, Fujitsu, NEC and Hitachi are also researching fuel cells for mobile phones and some portable computers. Most people would laugh at this idea before thinking about the possible benefits of it. Imagine a Nokia phone with a battery and fuel cell. You can recharge the battery at home but what if you are somewhere where you can't recharge? Simply "re-fill" your phone and you are back up to full power again.

Source:
BBC News

Written by: James Delahunty @ 4 Mar 2005 9:28

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• 8 comments

• squizzle

  I don't really enjoy the idea of a flammable device being pressed up against my head. I already get yelled at for talking on my phone at a gas pump because "it has static charge built up and could explode." Imagine having a methanol container next to your head exploding.

  4.3.2005 11:12 #1

• Nephilim

  Sounds cool to me especially with camera phones - you could watch your dumb friend blow his head off in real time :)
  
  Fuel cells are actually quite safe. I've worked in the trades for seven years where they use Paslode fuel cell driven nailguns all the time with no problems.
  

  
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  4.3.2005 13:05 #2

• daemonzx6

  The idea of gas powered electronics almost sounds like a step back in technology...
  But I can see the benefits.

  4.3.2005 18:47 #3

• squizzle

  soon everything will be a hybrid...
  

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  4.3.2005 19:37 #4

• ramu2000

  its stupid to think that gas station can explode when u are talking to cellphone, never happened. Its a stupid myth, if u have seen myth busters and they tested that myth. AND the myth was busted.

  6.3.2005 03:52 #5

• squizzle

  tell that to the lady that made me hang up my phone.

  6.3.2005 06:24 #6

• Nephilim

  Lol! Good one squizzle :)

  6.3.2005 08:37 #7

• squizzle

  I've actually heard that from a lot of people. I'll believe it when I see it though.

  6.3.2005 16:50 #8