Batteries included

Published on:

While DoCoMo plans to introduce fuel-cell batteries in its phone by 2004, Apple's next generation batteries will continue on the Lithium bandwagon.

Fuel cells are commonly used in satellites for their high performance and capacity but have not yet found their way into mass market products. The generation of energy is made by oxidation of a combustible. To refill the battery, you add more combustible (and possibly remove the by-product, usually water). That is less convenient than plugging the battery in a power socket, but potentially very lucrative (think ink cartridges).