Apple reportedly working w/ Intelligent Energy to integrate fuel cell tech in devices

[RedRound2]

A report from the Daily Mail over the weekend claimed Apple is working with fuel cell company Intelligent Energy on a project that hopes to embed fuel cells in mobile devices “within a few years.” 

 

The technology could be rolled out in devices such as laptops and iPads, allowing them to run without being charged for days or even weeks. Intelligent Energy revealed upon floating that it bought a bundle of patents in tandem with a major ‘international electronics company’…It has kept the identity of its partner a closely-guarded secret. But a source, who has knowledge of the partnership, confirmed that Apple is the big name working with the Loughborough-based firm.

 

On its website, Intelligent Energy lists solutions for automotive, distributed power & generation, and consumer electronics. It describes the technology for consumer electronics as air cooled fuel cell systems that “utilise low power fans to provide cooling and the oxidant supply for operation.” The solution includes a complete set of components that integrate with the fuel cell stack so that electricity is produced. The company is also behind UPP, a product that acts as a portable battery but uses replaceable cartridges and the company’s fuel cell technology to charge mobile devices (pictured below, right).

 

 

 

While there have been rumors that Apple could attempt to use solar or a fuel cell system to supplement battery life in future devices, we've yet to receive any actual proof the technology is indeed being tested for mobile devices. Apple does work with a number of partners, such as Bloom Energy, for fuel cell technology related to its data centers and clean energy projects, and it also has fuel cell related patents that do mention the use of the technology for mobile devices and other products. We've reached out to Apple for comment but didn’t immediately hear back.

 

Source: http://9to5mac.com/2014/07/14/apple-reportedly-working-w-intelligent-energy-to-integrate-fuel-cell-tech-in-devices/

[Fred Castellum]

Problem is fuel cells require platinum which is more scarce, expensive and polluting(I believe) than Lithium. 

 

I know were not talking cars here but: You will need 4 times more power plants per hydrogen car than per pure electric car.

Many other economical and environmental reasons why Fuel Cell tech(there is no H2O infrastructure) is not practical compared to standard battery tech(which is evolving and has infrastructure).  

 

To quote someone more educated than me Elon Musk once said “They're mind-bogglingly stupid” when FCEVs were mentioned. 

[StingBull]

What's up with the Nokia phones?

[Sauron]

So we're going back to... AAA batteries?

[ericlee30]

Well this should be interesting to see where this goes.

[Jaybird]

Still waiting on solar cells under oled display.

[qwertywarrior]

there are soo many advances to lithium

like using sulfur which would increase it life by two and many other advances

why arnt of these used ?

 

http://phys.org/news/2014-06-lithium-sulfur-battery-revolution-cheap.html

[qwertywarrior]

Still waiting on solar cells under oled display.

which is also resizable self healing and has  an embedded graphene SOC that is as fast as a super computer