New hydrogen fuel cell battery could help power mobile devices

August 25, 2015 2 By Tami Hood

Intelligent Energy invents new battery system to power smartphones

Intelligent Energy, a leading developer of clean technology, has invented a new fuel cell that can power a smartphone. The company has designed a fuel cell battery that has shown that it can power a prototype iPhone 6 for more than a week. The iPhone 6 itself is very similar to its production model, but it has vents in the back in order to expel water vapor, which hydrogen fuel cells generate as they are producing electrical power. This vapor is imperceptible to users, but has no place within an electronic device such as a smartphone.

Fuel cell system brings more attention to innovative energy systems

Like other fuel cells, the new system developed by Intelligent energy generates electricity through the consumption of hydrogen fuel. The byproducts of this process are heat and water vapor, making fuel cells environmentally friendly energy solutions. Hydrogen fuel cells have been used for industrial purposes for some time and they have begun to establish a place in the transportation space as well. Now, however, some developers are looking to shrink fuel cell so they can serve as energy solutions for mobile devices.

Fuel cell battery could use hydrogen fuel cartridges to stay charged

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Battery - MobileThe fuel cell battery has the ability to keep a phone charged for more than a week, but it must still be recharged like other batteries. In order to do this, users can attach a hydrogen production system to the device, providing it with the hydrogen it needs to operate. In the commercial iteration of this device, users will be able to make use of hydrogen fuel cartridges, which can be inserted into the battery system. These cartridges will serve as an easy and convenient way to keep the battery charged.

Fuel cells continue to fight for success in numerous sectors

Ensuring that the fuel cell battery will find mainstream success may be a difficult challenge. Hydrogen fuel cells have grown in popularity, but they have struggled to find widespread adoption in many sectors due to their high cost. Smaller fuel cell units are, of course, less expensive, but they also face the problem of a lacking hydrogen infrastructure, which limits their usefulness.

 

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