Electronics

myFC readies for launch of world's smallest fuel cell charger

myFC readies for launch of world's smallest fuel cell charger
The JAQ is intended for use anywhere
The JAQ is intended for use anywhere
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The 5-volt/1-amp JAQ fuel cell is about the size and shape of a smartphone, and is fuelled by thin PowerCards
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The 5-volt/1-amp JAQ fuel cell is about the size and shape of a smartphone, and is fuelled by thin PowerCards
The JAQ is intended for use anywhere
2/3
The JAQ is intended for use anywhere
Although the 1,800-mAh PowerCards are made from recycled materials, unfortunately they're designed to provide just a single full phone-charge each
3/3
Although the 1,800-mAh PowerCards are made from recycled materials, unfortunately they're designed to provide just a single full phone-charge each
View gallery - 3 images

If you need to power up your smartphone but are nowhere near an AC outlet … well, that's why Sweden's SiGNa Chemistry and myFC developed the PowerTrekk fuel cell/battery. While it's a handy device for off-grid device-charging, it's not exactly the type of thing that you'd just slip into a purse or pocket. myFC's new JAQ, however, is exactly that. It's being billed as the world's smallest fuel cell charger.

Both the original PowerTrekk and its more powerful successor are both kind of "blocky" in shape, and incorporate a lithium-ion battery that's charged by an integrated hydrogen fuel cell. That cell, in turn, runs on user-supplied water and replaceable sodium silicide PowerPukk discs.

By contrast, the 5-volt/1-amp JAQ fuel cell is about the size and shape of a smartphone. It's fuelled by thin PowerCards, which come readily-loaded with water and salt (no word on whether or not that salt is specifically sodium silicide). When one of those cards is loaded into the fuel cell, hydrogen is produced and the JAQ begins charging the user's phone – or tablet.

Although the 1,800-mAh PowerCards are made from recycled materials, unfortunately they're designed to provide just a single full phone-charge each
Although the 1,800-mAh PowerCards are made from recycled materials, unfortunately they're designed to provide just a single full phone-charge each

Although the 1,800-mAh PowerCards are made from recycled materials, unfortunately they're designed to provide just a single full phone-charge each, and are meant to be discarded after use.

myFC claims that an initial run of JAQs has already been shipped, with a major launch soon to follow. It will be available via a US$4.90 per-month-for-24 months plan, with PowerCards running from about $1.50 to $2 each when bought in bulk.

Source: myFC

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3 comments
3 comments
mhpr262
So if I want to charge my phone in the middle of nowhere, all I need is a lithium battery with an integrated hydrogen fuel cell (sounds pretty expensive), water (demineralized most likely) and a non-recyclable "PowerCard", which of course will be available nowhere but directly from the manufacturer? Thanks, I'll just buy a powerbank charging battery.
the.other.will
1800 mAH isn't very impressive but every new technology has to start somewhere.
crash486
The Brunton unit is a tad bigger but uses replaceable Hydrogen fuel "cores" and seems more versatile and the metal cores are recyclable but its good to see development of new tech.