20lbs of Battery Shrunk to 8ozs!

[Bob Russell]

One of the greatest technological limitations that hinders the adoption and growth of mobile devices is the slow improvements of battery and power technologies. Battery weight and size is a large part of mobile device weight and size. With ever increasing power needs, the batteries are increasingly the weak link in the devices.

Quite a bit of research has been done in this area, and fuel cells are a very promising technology. Now combined with nanotechnology, it seems we may finally be on the verge of a breakthrough that would affect almost every facet of life.

The Washington Times is reporting that

Developments are under way that could wipe batteries off the face of the Earth. Researchers at the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI), a consortium of Oregon educational institutions, say they have made significant breakthroughs in a power source that essentially turns 20 pounds of batteries into 8 ounces of fuel the size of a cigarette lighter.

In the next 3-5 years, a working prototype is expected. It will be a fuel cell that is part of a portable air conditioner for soldiers which should be the size of a paperback book, and weight less than 4lbs!

The full article is available at Teeny, Tiny Tech but requires a free registration.