Toshiba readies fuel-cell launch
Look ma, no plugs.
By Martyn Williams, IDG News Service | Published: 10:48, 06 August 2009
The new president of Toshiba has said the company will finally launch its much delayed external battery charger based on DMFC (direct methanol fuel cell) in the next two months.
The charger will be a portable device that can be used to charge the batteries in portable gadgets such as cell phones, music players and portable game devices instead of plugging them into an electrical outlet.
DMFCs produce electricity from a reaction between methanol, water and air. The only by-products are a small amount of water vapor and carbon dioxide, so DMFCs are often seen as a greener source of energy than traditional batteries. Another advantage is that they can be replenished with a new cartridge of methanol in seconds.
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The new charger will be on sale before the end of the first half of Toshiba's current financial year, which is the period from April to September. The launch, when it comes, will represent a roughly 6-month delay for the product, which was originally promised in the first quarter of this year.
Following the launch of the portable charger Toshiba will look at commercialising DMFCs for cell phones and laptop computers, it said.
Toshiba is targeting sales of $1.68 billion (£990 million) for its fuel cell business in 2015.
No other details on the device were immediately available.
