This News.com article provides an update on what some electronics makers’ plans are when it comes to products using a power source based on direct methanol fuel cell, or DMFC cartridges. Specifically, it cites Toshiba and its intention to come out with a DMFC cartridge in 2007 that would be able to run an iPod for two and a half days longer than it normally would. These micro fuel cells are in a race against advances in lithium ion battery technology, but so far DMFC technology has been rather slow out of the gate.

A key unanswered question is whether DMFC cartridges will be sold like printer cartridges, with each electronics manufacturer using its own design, or whether the technology will become standardized like disposable batteries. Also unclear is whether people would be able to keep the same cartridge and have the ability to refill them on their own with methanol fuel.

“Toshiba did not say if the fuel cells would ultimately be designed to allow consumers to refill… or if the cells would be sold as a disposable product only. That may depend in part on the findings of the International Electrotechnical Commission, which is reviewing a draft of safety standards based on international standardization specifications for micro fuel cells,” according to the article.

These are key questions that will have to be answered soon. It’s a little old now, but here’s an article I wrote on the issue back in March.

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