I’ve written about power a lot, so it’s no surprise that T-Mobile (News - Alert) offers various portable recharging options to complement its phones and PDAs. Recently, the carrier put its latest power-on-the-go offering on its “Green” web site and this is worth looking at from several angles.

 

Advertised on the T-Mobile shopping portal as “instant, eco-friendly power for your phone -- no charging needed,” Medis Technologies’ (News - Alert) 24/7 Xtreme Portable Power Solution is a borohydride liquid fuel cell that has taken years to perfect for mass market production. I first saw the technology being hyped in January 2007 at the Consumer Electronics Show, but only recently has an off-the-shelf product appeared for purchase at places like Costco and Fry’s.

 

Power is generated by mixing a dry powder mixture with water; the result is about 20 watt hours of power – enough to deliver around 30 hours of talk time on a vanilla phone and hundreds of hours of standby talk time. The disposable fuel cell is composed of recyclable plastic and contains nothing more than glorified soap powder and water, so it’s all eco-friendly.

 

At around 6.5 ounces and 2.7 inches wide by 3.8 inches long and 2.2 inches in depth, the Medis fuel cell is lightweight and relatively compact, doesn’t emit any gases or insane heat in operation so you can use it in enclosed spaces. It doesn’t dramatically catch on fire like some lithium ion batteries have been caught doing. Unlike batteries, you can leave the fuel cell on the shelf or in your man bag, er, computer case, and use it when you really need it. And the Department of Homeland Security has vouched that it’s safe for airplane travel.

 

But as you’d guess, there’s a catch or two. Once activated, the power from fuel cell is a use-or-lose operation within 30 days because the chemical reaction finally comes to an end. A charger, fuel cell, and tips cost $24.99 while a new fuel cell costs $20 retail, so this might not be the sort of thing you would casually use out on the road for an occasional trip. On the other hand, since you can basically let the fuel sit in your back without having to recharge it back up every couple of months, it is there if you need it and you’re not “ burning watts” by trickle charging a backup battery solution.