While we wait for laptops, PDAs and phones powered by hydrogen
to become a commercial reality, micro fuel cells (MFC) that can
replace batteries in portable electronics are in development, and
the majority of companies leading the pack are Japanese, according
to a recent ABI Research report.
According to Atakan Ozbek, ABI Research's director of energy
research, they are the likes of Hitachi, NEC and Toshiba - giant
manufacturers of consumer electronics for the world, as well as the
batteries that power them - as well as a few major companies that
intentionally maintain a lower profile.
Ozbek characterises them as "nimble," capitalising on their
established position making the very devices that first-generation
commercial MFCs will power. "Once they focus on something," he
said, "these companies can increase their development effort
significantly, which our research is now confirming.
"They know all there is to know about their own products' power
demands," Ozbek added. "They are showing rapid progress in making
MFCs smaller and lighter, more powerful and reliable - critical not
only for civilian use, but for the large and important military
market."
The Japanese do not have this field all to themselves, however.
In the United States, MTI Micro Fuel Cells, Medis Technologies, and
a few other firms are also active, the firm noted.
Next year, the major Japanese firms will release limited numbers
of MFC-powered portable devices to test populations, ABI Research
said. Later, high-end consumers will begin to adopt them, but
mass-market acceptance will probably take until 2008 or later, the
firm concluded.