Hitachi is reportedly preparing to commercialise the use of methanol fuel cells, to be used in electronic devices.

According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, the company is planning to launch a new range of fuel cells to work as the power supplies for small portable devices such as laptops and mobile phones.

Hitachi is looking to put the products on the market as early as next year and the devices would be a major step forward in the commercialisation of portable fuel cells.

It is hoped that the commercialisation of the devices will increase the demand for and support of fuel cell power supplies for portable applications.

Hitachi currently has the capacity to produce between 2,000 and 3,000 methanol fuel cells per month, demonstrating the fact that the company is eager to establish the devices as a major force.

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC)'s using platinum catalysts are potential alternatives to lithium ion batteries as, in contrast to batteries, they can be instantly recharged with a fuel cartridge recharger.


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