On Wed, 16 Nov 2005, Russell McMahon wrote:

> June 2004 announcement
>
> Toshiba fuel cell running on pure Methanol. 2cc produces 100 mW for 20 hours.
> ( 1 kWh/l).
>
> 22 x 56 x 4.5 mm (fits easily in the hand.)
> 8.5 gram (including fuel).
>
> Scaling linearly to say 100 watts would give a 8.5 kg cell requiring 2l of 
> Methanol for 20 hours operation.

At that efficiency rate the F*g Lister clone from India is very 
reasonable proposition even if the laptop must be used in the shed 
while wearing ear mufflers imho.

For example:

http://www.lister-petter.co.uk/product_details.php?productId=31&productType=3

0.7l Diesel/hour at 1000rpm and 2.2kW (mechanical), scaled back gives 
0.63cc diesel for 100mW and 20 hours. So they could be competitive, 
eventually. They will probably cost an arm and a leg for a long time 
though, and they will start making a difference only after that.

Considering that coal+steam got away with efficiencies well under 10% 
for more than a hundred years I think that the stumbling block for fuel 
cell acceptance is price, not efficiency or endurance.

The first firm out to make even inefficient (but reasonably safe) fuel 
cells at low price and make them available in quantity is going to win 
the entire market.

Peter
-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist