MTI Micro's Mobion fuel cells have set a major record: the fuel cell has gone over 2,700 hours of continuous use on a cell phone. In efforts to test the fuel cells and see how they really compare to the energy produced by Li-Ion power packs, the Mobion cells have blown away the competition.

The mark to hit has been 1,200 hours — the average amount of time that a cell phone owner talks over the course of a 2-year contract. During that time Li-Ion can lose up to 50 percent of their capacity. But the Mobion fuel cell battery can last twice that number of hours. And that's on a single charge: a cell phone using a Mobion fuel cell for power wouldn't require any cords or chargers.

The Mobion fuel cell uses liquid methanol cartridges. Liquid methanol is easy to store and relatively safe. The only by-products from a liquid methanol are water and CO2, released in small amounts.

MTI is building prototypes for consumer use, partnering with NeoSolar to make the Mobion available for NeoSolar's gadgets. The partners have already built prototypes for both MP3 player batteries and digital camera batteries. Future plans include an ultra-mobile PC powered by the Mobion.

Image — MTI Micro