- LOS ALAMOS, N.M. (Reuters) - A New Mexico research firm said Wednesday it has
come up with a prototype miniature power pack for cell phones that runs
on alcohol -- including hard liquor.
-
- Manhattan Scientifics Inc. (OTC BB:MHTX
- news) said it has come up with a ''pre-prototype'' micro fuel cell that
could be used to power a cell phone. Fuel cells generate power through
a chemical process without combustion.
-
- ``It can run on ethanol -- which is vodka.
It will run longer on something strong, but we are using a water/ethanol
mix that is equivalent to windshield wiper fluid,'' Robert Hockaday, the
company's chief fuel cell scientist, told Reuters.
-
- ``You could screw the fuel cell into
one of those little shot bottles, but then we would have a liability problem
-- people would be trying to drink their phones,'' he added.
-
- Hockaday is aiming to solve the convenience
problem of having to constantly recharge cell phone batteries.
-
- Rather than plugging the phone or its
battery into an electric outlet, his fuel cell system would allow cell
phone users to recharge by injecting a small alcohol-filled cartridge.
-
- Hockaday's prototype cell can run for
about two weeks on an ample of fuel, but the company's ultimate objective
is six months of uninterrupted usage. A commercial version of the miniature
fuel cell could be available in about a year and a half, the scientist
said.
-
- Manhattan Scientific's stock, listed
on the over-the-counter bulletin board, was up 25 cents at 52 cents a share
in late trading Wednesday.
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