Last week, the company Horizon released a portable fuel cell called Mini-PAK for recharging electronic devices. The unit can be bought online at a price of $ 100 and includes two replacement cartridges. Each cartridge offers lifetime as much energy as conventional batteries AA 1000 or looked at another way, for every cartridge that would throw away the trash we had to dispose of batteries 1000. In addition, they contain no toxic materials and can be recycled using conventional methods.

The Mini-PAK is a device that goes into the palm of the hand and recharges any electronic device that requires up to 2W of power through a USB token. It consists of a fuel cell and a passive breath hydrogen storage unit of the solid state. The fuel cell is the PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) or proton exchange membrane together with a solution that can store hydrogen as part of a metal.

The cartridge contains a sponge that absorbs hydrogen metal and transforms it into a solid hydride. Has the ability to then reinsert this hydrogen within the cell as required? The PEM cell breathes oxygen from the air and reacted with the stored hydrogen to produce small amounts of steam and electricity. According to the company's solution is completely safe because the hydrogen is stored within the metal at pressures very small.

Horizon aims to sell the device at $ 30 as sales volumes increase. The refill cartridges are sold today at $ 10 would make the same way to $ 6 with the highest volumes.

The company is also developing a home refueling station that will go on sale next month. Hydrofill called station plugs into the mains and the only thing to add is water in a reservoir, screw the cartridge and press the power button. The Hydrofill take hydrogen from water by sending it to the cartridge.

It is clear that there is an invention that will change the world but these advances are always encouraging, especially when you can start using daily. The big step will occur when the devices themselves have included these technologies. Do not forget as a computer cost 15 years ago and benefits were compared to common cell phones are now on the market. It is also important to note that if the energy with which we charge hydrogen fuel cell energy is not renewable your contribution will be less significant.