Hitachi Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) announced that it has co-developed a prototype direct-methanol fuel cell (DMFC) for use in mobile electronics products, and plans to launch the product with a compatible PDA in 2005. In making the announcement, Hitachi becomes the third Japanese electronics company to disclose plans to commercially produce DMFCs. Hitachi developed the fuel cell with Tokai, which is a major producer of disposable lighters and aerosol dispensers.
Hitachi's prototype uses a methanol concentration of around 20%, although the company plans to raise this to around 30% by the time it becomes a commercial product. The prototype fuel cell is a cartridge-type around 0.04in in diameter and between 1.9in and 2.4in in length. Hitachi considers the size, which is similar to that of an AA battery, as about the right size for commercial use and so won't be working on changing the dimensions by a large amount.
