Motorola’s Hydrogen powered phone

Fuel cell maker Angstrom Power and mobile phone maker Motorola have teamed up to create a prototype mobile phone that runs on a hydrogen fuel cell. Hydrogen is produced by cracking water molecules with a desktop fueling station and then inserted into a metal hydride storage container on the phone, says Aron Levitz, manager of business development for Angstrom. When the hydrogen molecules pass through a membrane in the fuel cell, electrons are stripped away and get diverted to run the phone. With a hydrogen fuel cell, you never have to go to the store to get fuel feedstock.

This phone can be considered as a water powered phone. The water-to-hydrogen generator can also be powered by solar panels, making the phone about as green as you get. Hydrogen proponents point out that, although the hydrogen highway may not be built yet, the small molecule can be used to provide power to boats, fork lifts, and electronics. The two companies are trotting the phone to various trade shows. Start-up Angstrom has received investments from of Chrysalix Ventures.  This phone is going to launch in the middle of 2010.