Hasta La Gadget!

Oh yeah, everyone loves the extended battery, but are we really kosher with the added bulge? A team of boffins at the University of Missouri certainly aren’t, as they’ve spent the last good while of their lives researching and developing a new nuclear battery that could be used to power devices much smaller than, well, most anything. The radioisotope cell, as it’s called, can reportedly “provide power density that is six orders of magnitude higher than chemical batteries,” and while some may question the safety of this potentially volatile device, the liquid semiconductor (used instead of a solid semiconductor) should help ease concerns. The current iteration of the device is about the size of a penny, and it’s intended to power a variety of MEMS systems. Now, if only these guys could find a way to make a standard AA last longer than a week in our Wiimote, we’d be pleased as punch.

[Via BBC, thanks Jim]

Filed under: Peripherals

Mizzou’s nuclear battery to power things smaller than your brain can imagine originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba has been promising the world a healthy dose of fuel cell chargers for what feels like ages now, with its most recent swearing happening just two months ago. Here at CEATEC, the company’s wares were being trumpeted by KDDI. We witnessed a standard handset have its stock battery removed and replaced with an admittedly bulky fuel cell container. The booth attendant proudly juiced up the cell, clipped it onto the phone’s rear and mashed the power button. Within seconds, the device booted up normally, and a handy level indicator on the charger itself kept us in the know on how much life was left. Or — you know — maybe the whole thing was just an elaborate hoax to fool English-speaking media into thinking this stuff was really nearing its commercial release. Have a look at a brief video just beyond the break, but try not to get your hopes up too high. No need in having your heart broken again unnecessarily.

Continue reading Toshiba’s DMFC fuel cell seen ‘powering phones’ at CEATEC (video)

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals

Toshiba’s DMFC fuel cell seen ‘powering phones’ at CEATEC (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Helix Wind, a company that produces some very distinctive-looking wind turbines, is getting ready to start new trials in the US and Africa. These trials will involve testing the vertical wind turbines as a source of power for cellphone towers in areas where they may be off the grid, and carry much higher operating costs. The turbines should produce enough energy to power the cellphone towers, and pay for themselves within about six months. The trials are set to start at the end of the month with local Nigerian provider Eltek NSG as a main participant.

[Via Inhabitat]

Filed under: Cellphones

Helix Wind launching wind-powered cellphone tower trials in US and Africa originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We can’t say we doubted that New Energy’s MotionPower speed bump would actually be installed at a New Jersey Burger King, but it’s always refreshing to see a plan morph into reality. As of now, those in Hillside heading to have it their way will cruise over the kinetic energy harvester before retrieving their grub, which has the potential to create around 2,000 watts of electricity from a car hitting it at five miles per hour. As of now, the hump is simply there to test storage potential, but New Energy is hoping that the next generation of the tech could be placed at a variety of fast foot eateries, parking lots, toll booth plazas and anywhere else where folks need a little assistance in maintaining a sensible speed. Check out the read link for a plethora of shots, and feel free to splurge on a #4 combo today if you’re in the area — Ma Earth will thank you.

Filed under: Transportation, Science

MotionPower speed bump installed at NJ Burger King, McDonald’s and Wendy’s feel slighted originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you’re dreaming of always plugging your future AC-friendly hybrid in during the wee hours of the morning in order to juice up for the lowest price, you’re certainly using your noodle. But what about instances where you can’t choose when exactly you’ll be plugging in? Fret not, as Bill Ford and Company has you covered. The automaker, in collaboration with a slew of utility partners, has today introduced an intelligent vehicle-to-grid communications system that would theoretically enable vehicle owners to plug their ride in and tell it precisely when to begin and / or end charging via the navigation screen. Users could also define the completion time for charging or the desired rates in order to better control spending, though all that planning could be ruined by some random prankster who decides to yank your cable when you’re not looking. And really, who cares about saving a penny or two on charging when you can get two hundred and thirty miles per gallon? Oh, wait…

[Via HotHardware]

Filed under: Transportation

Ford’s vehicle-to-grid communications system charges plug-in whips on command originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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