Motorola debuts fuel cell powered phone

A Canadian firm has produced the world's first mobile phone fuel cell that fits into a normal handset amidst claims that the cell lasts twice as long as conventional batteries.

Vancouver-based Angstrom Power said its hydrogen-powered EverOn battery, which has been integrated into Motorola's SLVR L7 handsets, is more efficient than lithium ion batteries and takes just 10 minutes to charge.

The hydrogen fuel cells may also be better for the environment, with European activists claiming discarded lithium products are clogging up landfill sites and contaminating water sources.

Angstrom Power spokesman Paul Zimmerman said the advantage of the development over other attempts to power mobile phones using fuel cells was that the hydrogen battery fitted into a traditional handset, rather than users having to hook up to a separate power source.

The company conducted a six-month trial of the product using its Micro Hydrogen product, which consists of a fuel cell and hydrogen storage tank, and claims it is now planning to commercialise the technology by 2010.

Users of the new handsets, which were unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week, will be able to recharge using hydrogen fuel rather than electricity plugs.

This has, however, raised questions over their potential as a fire hazard and the need for local supermarkets and stores to stock hydrogen refuelling products.

However, Motorola spokesman Jerry Hallmark welcomed the move, arguing that "as consumer demand for smartphones and multimedia devices grows, so does the need for efficient powering solutions that help enable 'always on' experiences".