Sony has unveiled a new prototype hybrid fuel cell system that will enable future mobile devices to stay unplugged and awake longer, or so they claim. The device uses methanol as fuel, and earns the hybrid designation as the output is complemented with a Li-polymer secondary battery to help it deal with electronic peak loads.
According to the company, the new hybrid fuel cell system uses energy so efficiently that 14 hours of video can be continuously played on general mobile phones with just 10mL of methanol. The company says that the hybrid fuel cell unit is rated at 3W of instantaneous power, and is currently working to commercialize the 1.2-inch by 2.0-inch power pack.