[Video] A water powered fuel cell? For toys?
October 12 2008 / by Garry Golden
Category: Energy Year: 2009 Rating: 5 Hot
[Catch: water is not the fuel]
Horizon Fuel Cell’s future is based on an elegant idea – water powered electric devices. Their HydroPak portable generator units are designed for early markets around military, medical, telecommunication, building management, and industrial customers.
Fuel cells are basically advanced refillable batteries that convert chemical energy into electrical energy. The technology is taking longer than expected to commercialize, but they are coming.
Horizon uses a hydrogen rich chemical hydride (NaBH4) to power the device. This fuel was developed by Millennium Cell which formed a strategic partnership in an equity swap with Horizon last year.
The water is only part of the reaction to release the chemical energy. Water is less a fuel, than it is a reactant. So the product’s appeal uses a bit of trick marketing!!
‘Water’ powered sounds better than ‘chemical hydride’ powered!
Video credit: DigInfo
What’s happening? How does water create electricity?
Fuel cells for toys?
And what about methanol fuel cells?
