According to Akihabaranews, Samsung is now offering a high-density fuel cell storage system for its Q35 laptop. The power system is contained in a large dock that the laptop sits on top of.

Samsung claims that the fuel cell offers an energy density of 650Wh/L, which is about four times as much as competing offerings. The total energy storage is an impressive 12,000Wh, which depending on the laptop's power settings and usage could theoretically power the laptop continuously for a whole month without the need for recharging.



Fuel cell laptop.

One of the big breakthroughs Samsung is touting for their new fuel cell system is a major reduction in noise level: the new unit is said to be no louder than conventional laptops. While the docking station is somewhat bulky, it still qualifies as being portable, which is a claim that other fuel-cell solutions have not always lived up to.

Besides the advantage of much longer battery life, fuel cells have other advantages, such as near-instantaneous recharging time by simply adding more fuel. Companies such as Casio were demonstrating laptop fuel cell prototypes as early as 2003. Some even predicted that devices as small as cell phones could use fuel cell batteries, but the technology has taken some time to become ready for consumer use. As fuel cells become smaller, lighter, and more powerful, they may eventually take over from conventional batteries for all kinds of applications. And the days of mobile computing users rushing to find power outlets may become a thing of the past.