Beyond batteries: laptops to be powered by solar power, micro fuel cells

Monday, July 19, 2004 by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger Editor of NaturalNews.com (See all articles...) Tags: portable computing, notebook computers, portable power

https://www.naturalnews.com/013290_portable_computing_notebook_computers.html

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Solar cells are seeing a major breakthrough with the ability to print flexible sheets of solar panel material that can be folded like maps or wrapped around other objects (like your notebook). No longer will solar technology be large, heavy and clunky.

Micro fuel cells are also seeing technology breakthroughs even before first-generation fuel cells have appeared on the market. Compared to batteries, micro fuel cells offer extraordinary advantages: 1/20th the weight while delivering as much as ten times the power.

So which technology is better? Solar power wins this designation, since it's free, renewable and clean. But solar power isn't always available, especially if you're working indoors or during evening hours. Micro fuel cells offer portable power anytime, anywhere, albeit at a fixed price per watt: the more power you use, the more you have to pay.

In the end, a hybrid approach seems to be the best: charge your notebook computer with free sunlight when available, but run on fuel cells the rest of the time. Of course, having both power systems in a notebook computer will increase the base cost of the unit, so that's yet another cost penalty for upgrading to modern power technology. But if you're like most notebook computer users, you'll appreciate the 10 - 12 hours of uninterrupted notebook uptime, even if it costs you 25% more than today's notebook computers.