A Japanese start-up says it has finessed a
technology that could finally make consumer-grade fuel cells a reality.
If successful, the company, Aquafairy, would create a business where
many much larger companies have failed.
Prototypes
of the company's hydrogen fuel cell technology are on show this week at
the Ceatec exhibition in Japan where the company's president, Mike
Aizawa, said he hopes the first products will be on sale next year.
The
promise of fuel cells is attractive: instantly available electricity
from a safe, disposable fuel cartridge. They are typically seen as a way
to provide electricity where there is no power grid, when electricity
supply has failed or, in a portable package, for on-the-go charging of
gadgets such as smartphones or tablets.
Japan's
major electronics companies went through a period of several years
beginning around 2005 when they showed prototype fuel cells, but none of
them ever managed to reach the market and much of that research appears
to have ended.
"They all failed because they
used Methanol," said Aizawa in an interview with the IDG News Service.
"They couldn't figure out a way to do it efficiently. If I had thought
they would have succeeded, I never would have started my company."
Aquafairy
was established in mid-2006 and has been developing a fuel cell based
on hydrogen. Typically an extremely reactive fuel, the company has
developed a treatment that turns it into a sold form that's safe to
handle but is still useful as a fuel, said Aizawa.
At Ceatec, the company has three working prototype fuel cells on show.
A
pocket-size portable model, designed to fully charge a smartphone,
appeared to be attracting the most interest. Producing 2.5 watts of
power, it's a little lighter than a smartphone at 89 grams and measures
about the same size. Through USB, it can charge most portable
electronics gadgets.
A second charger is already
in field trials in Japan and can deliver 200 watts of power. Weighing 7
kilograms and a little smaller than a conventional car battery, it's
powered by a canister containing solid hydrogen that looks similar to
the small butane canisters used in camping stoves.
Developed
with Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development
Organization (NEDO), it has a couple of USB outputs and two conventional
AC outputs. This charger is being eyed for use after disasters, like
2011's earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan.
The
final charger is a long-life type designed for use in remote areas,
such as mountains and forests. It provides just half a watt, but can do
so for half a year meaning trips to replace batteries on things like
scientific measuring equipment don't need to be made frequently.
Aquafairy
is working with Japan's Rohm on the control circuitry for the chargers
and to bring the products to market, but says it is also looking for
partnerships with other companies and organizations.
Aizawa didn't provide a cost for the technology, but said he knows he has to deliver it at a consumer-friendly price.
"That's my job for the next year," he said.
Martyn Williams covers mobile telecoms, Silicon Valley and general technology breaking news for The IDG News Service. Follow Martyn on Twitter at @martyn_williams. Martyn's e-mail address is martyn_williams@idg.com
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