Li-ion batteries will be one of the key components in the next generation of hybrid and eco-friendly cars.  Nearly all portable electronics today are using Lithium-ion based batteries because of their light weight vs. high energy density - and several other reasons as well. As of now, hybrid and electric cars are lugging around nickel metal hydride batteries. Although they may be cheaper and more durable than the Li-ion models, they just don’t pack the same punch.

A lot of big names in the auto industry are now making deals with electronic manufacturing companies for the mass production of Li-ion batteries which will be used in their new car models. Toyota has already partnered with the owner of Panasonic, and Nissan has formed a similar deal with the Japanese giant NEC Corp. In an attempt to catch up with is competitors, Volkswagen will also be joining up with Sanyo.

But incorporating Lithium-ion batteries into cars will have to done with many improved safeguards – at least before I put one of them under my hood. For instance, Li-ion batteries are very dangerous if mistreated and are extremely sensitive to high temperatures (like next to a car engine). Plus, storing a lithium-ion battery in a warm place will cause it to degrade at a much faster rate and significantly reduce its life.  It is also known that a small percentage of li-ion batteries will surely fail and burst into flames, not exactly what we want to happen on the freeway – or at the drive-thru for that matter.

Power is limiting factor when it comes to smart-hand-held technologies. Everyone would love not having to worry about recharging their phone for a week, or being able to run their laptop off the battery for a whole working day. Fuel cells may be the panacea for portables, since they have a capacity 10 times greater than they types of batteries currently in use. In terms of raw power output, methanol fuel cells produce 40 times more wattage per liter than lithium-ion batteries.

In Sony’s latest prototype, 10ml of methanol sustained 14 hours of cell phone video play. But it’s a bit bulky and only a hybrid prototype - the new fuel cells aren’t stable enough to stand alone yet. That seems to be what’s got the FAA nervous as well. Although the Department of Transportation will allow the fuel cells to be taken on planes, the FAA is currently conducting multi-scenario ‘flammability-tests’ before giving the final approval.

Interestingly, methanol is environmentally friendly, also called bio-fuel since it can be made from organic waste products. A favorable alternative to the volatile lithium-ion batteries. On the other hand, researchers are looking for an alternative to methanol because it requires an expensive catalyst such as platinum. Such a limitation would keep the cost of production too high to integrate with modern devices, and lack of alternative materials has slowed research. Bringing fuels cells down to the nano-scale may be another solution to this problem since it can greatly increase the surface area of the catalyst exposed. Improved methods of manufacturing are bringing these nano-scale fuel cells closer to production.

The recent developments in fuel-cell technology seem to be the first step towards running things off water. In fact, Samsung is planning to have a cell phone that runs off of water by 2010.

Environmentally friendly laptops have made their way to the shelves. In Japan, Fujitsu is taking the Kyoto treaty one step further with the production of two new eco-laptops.

The concept of a ‘green’ notebook was first released with the WoodShell, which was showcased by Fujitsu at the Japan Design Innovation 2008 convention in Milan. Since then, the wooden FMV-Biblo (pictured above) has made it to the shelves and is being bought up in a storm by environmentally conscious consumers. The FMV-Biblo is sheathed in a cedar case and the interior parts are made mostly of bio-plastics. Thus the amount of hydro-carbons released into the environment during production is significantly reduced.

Asus has followed the green trend with a new production concept ‘DIGIvision’. They aim to bring an environmentally sound balance to both the design as well as the hardware within. Asus is now showcasing their version of a wooden laptop, but it is not yet available for purchase. Time has yet to tell whether these sustainable designs will compromise their durability.

Copyright © Florian Dobson