> Tim May[SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] wrote: > > > On Monday, October 28, 2002, at 11:08 AM, Trei, Peter wrote: > > > > Batteries are becoming the main drag on this stuff. Hopefully, fuel > > cells will be available soon. > > It's going to be interesting to see how airlines and other security > narcs deal with fuel cells. The energy content of a small > canister/container of the fuel can be high. Given that butane lighters > are now banned... > > And if these fuel cells are banned on airlines, there goes 90% of the > market. Tourists and business travelers just won't buy fuel cell-based > laptops and camcorders if they can't carry them in airports, into > Disneyland, in public buildings, etc. > > I assume the developers of fuel cells (Motorola?) are thinking about > this issue. > Actually, the DoT has already ruled positively that one fuel cell from Polyfuel can be carried on board. They appear to have a cartridge for the methanol, similar to a ink cartridge. It's a pity it's methanol - I want to be able to tell the stewardess "Bring me a double Absolut! My laptop is running low!" Even if this company turns vaporware, others won't.
(my Microsoft email software will of course mangle the URL:) http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/FuelCellToday/IndustryInformation/IndustryInfor mationExternal/NewsDisplayArticle/0,1471,1888,00.html - start quote - Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Approved for Carriage on Aeroplanes 07 October 2002 Author: Mark Cropper, Fuel Cell Today Provider: Fuel Cell Today According to reports in BusinessWeek, the US Department of Transportation has ruled that a new fuel cell developed by US company Polyfuel can be taken on airplanes. The announcement clears the way for the commercialisation of fuel cells as an alternative to batteries in notebook computers. The use of direct methanol fuel cells on aeroplanes has been questioned as they contain methanol, which is flammable. According to Jim Balcom, Polyfuel's CEO, the US DOT said that a fuel cell designed by his company could be taken into aircraft cabins when it goes on sale because it contains a relatively low concentration of methanol. Fuel cells are viewed as a promising power source in notebook comptuers as they are instantly refuellable (using fuel cartridges) and will power laptops two to three times longer than standard batteries. - end quote -
