Comments on: Horizon MiniPak Brings Hydrogen Fuel Cells to the Masses

By: Andy Mesa

Andy Mesa — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 10:54:02 +0000

The life expectancy is about 1000 AA batteries, that doesn’t mean each charge is equivalent to 1000 AA batteries (it’s actually about 7-8). So it’s really more equivalent to longer lasting rechargeable batteries.

By: geobruin

geobruin — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 23:57:06 +0000

@Bruce,

Re-read the article.

FTA: “And, we’re hearing that recharges are only going to cost about the same as buying a new pack of batteries.”

Also FTA: “Because each cartridge has a life expectancy equal to about 1,000 AA-batteries”

So, I recharge my fuel cell for the price of ONE PACK of batteries, and get the same amount of power as 1,000 AA batteries.

Looks like an immediate cost savings to me, let alone a long term cost savings.

Cheers!

By: Bruce

Bruce — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 22:50:44 +0000

Hi, exciting development, but I can’t quite grasp
what it is you’re saying is exciting here…
If it costs as much as a battery solution each time I charge a device, then there is no cost saving (buying disposable batteries doesn’t carry the $100 device premium) – and batteries (or the hydrogen cell) is always going to be more expensive than a wall-wart… so how exactly do we ‘save quite a bit of money’?

I can see there’s a strong environmental benefit over a device’s lifetime of avoiding a thousand disposable batteries (something I’d pay $100 for anyday), and it’s undeniably great gadgetry, but I can’t help think this article is failing to define the true benefit, just as it states ‘beyond the charging options’ without actually indicating what they are!

Is it that the fuel cells provide more device charges per ‘cell charge’ in order to deliver a financial benefit which is alluded to without actually being defined?

By: Cesar Quebral

Cesar Quebral — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 05:44:26 +0000

This cool technology doesn’t have Apple’s branding on it…