14 DAY TRIAL // Intelligent Energy has recently demonstrated that a new iPhone 6 hydrogen-based fuel cell managed to integrate seamlessly into an existing Apple smartphone chassis and run the device for up to a week.
Apparently, users can get different cell chargers for their iPhones that use both lithium ion batteries and some own internal technology. Intelligent Energy, however, managed to build something different: a hydrogen-powered battery cell that, yes, discharges air and water vapor. Amazingly, although looking like something from the 19th century, it will last your mobile device for one entire week.
According to The Telegraph, the current model of Intelligent Energy’s hardware gets its hydrogen fuel cell refueled via the headphone jack; it's unknown if headphones are still used, and quite surprisingly, it won't replace the existing lithium-ion battery but rather supplement it. At the moment there are questions on how this device would work while in various users' hands, and how much a manufacturer like Apple would need to change the phone's layout to make sure the discharging vents are always clear.
Longer battery life with a "Victorian" design
Intelligent Energy won't manufacture this technology but would rather sell licenses for it, so it becomes quite obvious that they would have to do the entire R&D before managing to sell this to different companies that only have to integrate it seamlessly in their own devices.
Right now Intelligent Energy's biggest problem is reselling the rechargers for the hydrogen battery. Sold separately from each other, the company's cell recharger, the Upp is a boxy unit that connects to your phone via the USB port. Although highly useful when at hand, it's the "at hand" part that is hard to get for some people since they are very rare and difficult to find.
Hydrogen technology both in cars and mobile devices is incredible but highly expensive and rare. It can help your car or your phone last for days on end, but it isn't easy to come by. Therefore, it isn't hard to expect people not to buy into such exotic solutions when electric plugs and common battery chargers can be found everywhere.