Fuel cell research continues rolling along... but why?

A few weeks ago, Sharp announced more progress in the world of fuel cells, devices which promise to replace batteries in consumer electronics in favor of methanol-powered cells which are instantly refillable with liquid fuel instead of reliant on a connection to the grid for recharging.

Sharp has been a leader in fuel cell research for years, so it's good to hear that more progress has been made (in this case, power density has now reached 0.3 watts per cubic centimeter; lithium-ion batteries have a power density of 1W per cc and higher). In related news, fuel-cell advocate Toshiba even says it is going to get fuel cells on the market by

2009. Still, the news ultimately left me cold, which is why I've sat on it for weeks. Why? Because though they seem to get better and better, fuel cells continue to seem like a pipe dream that will never come to pass.

Part of it is journalist fatigue. I've been seeing prototype fuel cells and quasi-cells since the turn of the century. Every year at CES, Toshiba shows off a fuel-cell-equipped laptop beneath Plexiglas, and each year the cell gets smaller and smaller... but it's always an external device, connected to the laptop by a cable. Will a vendor ever show off a fuel cell built into a laptop? Probably, someday... but what about a fuel-cell phone or an iPod? That level of miniaturization seems so far afield that it may very well never happen.

But putting the technological challenges aside, the reality is that fuel cells just don't seem to solve the power problem in a way that makes sense. Think about it: Would you rather carry a vial of highly-flammable methanol around to recharge your gear or an electric cable? In a world where laptop fires make front page news, can you imagine what will happen when the first executive immolates himself while trying to refill his laptop and take a smoke break at the same time? (Then again, I guess we don't see many fires while people gas up their cars...) Fire or no, in any case, there's no way the fuel cell will ever be allowed on an airplane. Hell, you can't even take a tube of toothpaste with you, much less a cup o' methanol.

Really, though, it's inertia that will keep fuel cells off the market, probably forever. Why? People are becoming more accustomed to and interested in electricity as a power source rather than liquid fuel. With gas hitting all-time high prices (and alternatives like ethanol following right behind) even cars are finally making the move toward plug-in power.

Look at it this way: You want me to use electricity for my car but power my tiny laptop with liquid fuel? How the heck does that make any sense?