Samsung SDI Co. Ltd. has developed the first prototype fuel cell for portable multimedia players (PMP), with its affiliate, Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT). Samsung reported that a 1.5-watt player can run up to four hours on the replaceable methanol fuel cell cartridge. The company plans to commercialize the cell by 2007 or 2008, according to a company spokesman.
Samsung SDI has invested $3.9 million in fuel cell development since 2004, using nano-composite membranes, flexible printed circuit boards for slim devices, and noise-free fuel supply technology.
In conjunction with SAIT, Samsung plans to introduce another PMP-loadable fuel cell able to run at 10 hours on a single charge.
Along with the rechargeable battery for PMPs, Samsung has also developed a fuel cell allowing a PDA with 1.3-watt power source to run eight hours, compared with two hours using existing secondary batteries, it reported.
Last November, Samsung said it developed a fuel cell for laptops able to supply 15 hours on a charge — reportedly double that of other fuel cells. The methanol fuel cell has an energy density of 200 watt hours per liter.
According to Japan's Nomura Research Institute, the global fuel cell market will grow from $124 million in 2006 to $725 million in 2010 and $2.49 billion in 2015.
