At MWC 2015, Swedish company myFC has unveiled its latest fuel-cell battery charger for smart devices. Called the JAQ, it is touted as the world’s smallest portable fuel cell charger with a robush body, allowing users to take it along to places where an electrical plug point is not available.
The JAQ fuel cell charger works in the opposite of how fuel cell cars do. The JAQ has two components, a main sheath and a disposable cartridge containing salt and water. Slotting the cartridge into the sheath injects some chemical catalysts (non-flammable common metals) that convert the salt and water into hydrogen fuel cells equivalent to a 2,400mAh battery pack. But, since slotting the cartridge in immediately combines all chemical components, and myFC says the battery will immediately start discharging.
These single-use JAQ cartridges contain only water and salt, and the housing is made from recycled plastic, making it environmentally safe. That being said, the Swedish company is still looking to create a system where users can return the used cartridges when purchasing new ones. Speaking of which, these new cartridges are expected to cost between US$1 to US$1.50 (about RM3.65 to RM5.50). The JAQ sheath itself does not have a final price, though the company expects it to retail about US$75 (about RM274).
The JAQ isn’t the first myFC fuel cell charger. The company already has a larger fuel cell charger called the PowerTrekk 2.0, with an embedded 3,800mAh Li-Po battery and a myFC warm-up Puck containing the salt and catalyst. The Pucks retail at €45 (about RM180) for a set of nine, while the PowerTrekk 2.0 is sold at €149 (about RM600).
myFC expects the JAQ to be available globally from Q4 2015, though it is likely that it will be pretty difficult to find one outside of the European Union.
