Your Laptop, Cell Phone May run on Methanol by Next Year.

Methanol could be in your near future if Viaspace, Inc. has its way. The company that adapts NASA and military technology is displaying fuel-cells that may replace lithium ion batteries.

The touted advantages are longer operating times, high flexibility to meet various needs and instant recharge times; spent fuel cells are replaced with new disposable ones.

The technology has been developed by a Viaspace subsidiary, Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Corporation (DMFCC). Apparently, a number of electronics companies have announced plans to develop direct method methanol fuel cells, but other chemicals such as formic acid and ethanol are also said to work similarly. Currently, DMFCC is developing test fuel-cell cartridges for a number of clients covering various applications.