Though automobiles, homes, and the like have been the main focus of alternative energy source research and development, there are more gadgets and gizmos in our day to day lives that could benefit from advancements in alternative energy sources. Sony has made some significant leaps in the area of tiny portable fuel cells, and believes that with a little work, fuel cells will be powering cell phones and the like in no time.

Sony has just unveiled a tiny fuel cell that rests snugly in the palm of your hand, according to DailyTech. The little hybrid power source measures a meager 50 mm X 30 mm, and is comprised by the fuel cell, a control circuit and a secondary Lithium-polymer battery.

The fuel cell is methanol-based, and a Sony engineer said, “We have been aiming to mount (a fuel-cell system) in mobile devices and finally reached a level of commercial design.” The small power source can generate a respectable 3 watts over power, which, at least by Sony’s standards, is enough to power mobile devices.

There are a few snags with Sony’s red carpet affair. First, the whole power source is almost as big as many mobile devices are today, which will make it difficult to integrate into modern devices without either jumbo-sizing handhelds or shrinking down the fuel cell substantially.

Secondly, 3 watts may certainly be enough power for some, less feature-rich handsets on the market, but is it enough to power the smart phones of today? Can it power the iPhone of tomorrow? Perhaps, but perhaps not.

Regardless, this is a big jump in alternative power source research, and with a little refinement, we very well may see fuel cells in our cell phones and PDAs before long.

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Entry was posted on Monday, May 5th, 2008 at 9:09 pm under Cell phones, Technology.

Read more entries by Triston McIntyre.
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