PowerTrekk — Power anywhere, just add water

So this is interesting. Swedish fuel cell technology company, myFC, is bringing the world’s first portable hydrogen fuel cell charger to market. It’s called PowerTrekk and it’s aimed at outdoor enthusiasts who spend time away from the electricity grid.

It’s actually a 2-in-1 charging solution combining a fuel cell and a portable battery pack. The fuel cell is called a PowerTrekk Power Puck and converts hydrogen into electricity. The puck remains dormant until water is poured into the fuel cell’s water tank — approximately a tablespoon is needed. The chemical process instantly creates 5W of electricity which can charge any USB chargeable electronic equipment. To give you an idea, a puck has enough power to charge an iPhone twice before it becomes spent.

The PowerTrekk unit also includes a standard 1500mAh battery which can be charged via a power outlet or via the fuel cell. It can therefore operate on its own as a ready source of power or serve as a storage buffer for the fuel cell.

It seems like the ultimate outdoor charging solution. On the one hand, you have the 1500mAh battery, which is slow to charge, but has the benefit of longer term electricity storage. On the other hand, you have the fuel cell which can provide immediate charging from dormancy, but has to be utilised immediately, unless of course, you don’t charge your USB device, but the PowerTrekk’s 1500mAh battery instead.

Pucks come in 3-packs and cost €1.99 per puck. The entire PowerTrekk unit costs €199 and sales start in Europe, the US and Japan in the spring of 2012. I need one. I’m not sure what for yet, but I do.