Not exactly gas. But just as intriguing.

Here's an interesting announcement by NEC. Laptops powered by fuel cells, which are fed by methanol (a type of alcohol).

http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=34667628

It shouldn't be long before similar power supplies are available for video work. Imagine carrying a can of methanol instead of spare batteries or chargers?

Dean Sensui
Base Two Productions

So does that mean Drug dealers on the street would carry 'camcorder batteries' to look all 'innocent' to the local law enforcements....hahahaha

Methanal= Methane+Alcohol

Alternative to pricey cells- Drink Tequilla and run a tube from your rear to your gear?

This could put a whole new truism behind the expression, "My footage looks like crap.".

I read an article a few months back about researchers at Saint Louis University who have developed a fuel cell that runs on gin. I'm surprised the methanol fuel cells are taking so long to catch on. The technology is here now.

<<<-- Originally posted by Marco Leavitt : I'm surprised the methanol fuel cells are taking so long to catch on. The technology is here now. -->>>

I've read fuel cells need some expensive catalisators to work, like platinum. So it's a matter of price mainly. The technology has been here for a long time already.

Yeah, its like native 16:9, HD, hard drives replacing tape, hover cars and everything else really cool that we have to wait for. Okay, not hover cars, but it seems like we're forever waiting for manufacturers to decide to start mass producing stuff. Its the eternal trap -- they can't bring the price down until they start mass producing, but they can't start mass producing until they're sure people want it, and regular people don't want it because they don't know about it because it isn't in stores because it isn't being mass produced. I understand the marketing dilemmas these companies face, but it sure is agravating.

Don't drink methanol its lethal. Ethyl alcohol is stuff gin is made of.

From one report I read, fuel cells could be very cost efficient. The cell's components do not wear out like batteries, though the issue of what to do with the water and low temperature performance could be problems. Lately another problem may have service and that is ozone production.

Another big advantage of fuel cells is life per charge. Battery technology is reaching a limit. Fuel cells have a longer operating life. Of course there is only speculation on how you would actually refill them (while they are in operation???).

--Another big advantage of fuel cells is life per charge. Battery technology is reaching a limit. Fuel cells have a longer operating life. Of course there is only speculation on how you would actually refill them (while they are in operation???).--

One sip for me, one sip for cell, one sip for me, one sip for cell, oen spi fro em, fhbjkbdsvhjfbhkdsabckdbdbc kbc

zac

*grinz*

I know that a local company in my area, MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc., claims to have solved the filling issue. They have patented a device that lets users fill their fuel cells. Supposedly they're going to reach full commercialization next year on a fuel cell that powers cell phones. They also claim that all water vapor just evaporates off at about the rate it's produced.