A brand new model of a tiny hydrogen-powered battery has been created by the British firm, Intelligent Energy, which can power smartphones for an entire week without needing to be charged. A working iPhone 6 prototype battery has been created and, now, the sky is the limit.
According to The Independent, the idea behind this battery is a small-scale version of the same technology we’ve seen in the automotive industry in the past, in which hydrogen and oxygen combine together in a fuel cell to provide trace amounts of waste heat and water.
RUMOR: APPLE TO WORK WITH INTELLIGENT ENERGY
The system can fit inside an iPhone 6, as Telegraph has already tested, and it is rumored that Intelligent Energy is going to team up with Apple to discuss possible integration of their new battery system in future products. Although the company does not want to confirm anything just yet, the technology is seems to be sound and all that is missing is a concrete way to sell it.
HOW DOES THIS iPHONE BATTERY WORK?
The prototype uses hydrogen gas, which, through a modified headphone port, is refuelled. Consumers, however, will receive a much more convenient solution. Intelligent Energy is opting for a disposable cartridge full with hydrogen-releasing powder to provide the iPhone with long-lasting energy for up to seven days. After that time, the cartridge must be ejected and replaced with a new one.
This is a groundbreaking invention since this new system allows the phone to charge without being connected to power. The current fuel is small enough to fit inside the phone alongside the rechargeable battery, which can be used as a backup. Recharging and external power banks utilizing fuel cells can already be bought and used as a way to quickly top up a device on the go.
