Apple has reportedly filed a patent application for an internal fuel cell battery system including removable cartridges that could keep electronics devices such as MacBooks running for days or weeks before refueling. A longer battery life would benefit smartphone, camera, and laptop owners and solve the irksome problem of low power.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office published the tech giant's application on September 3, Thursday. The "fuel cell system" would power up portable computing devices.
9to5Mac first reported the patent filing. Apple's built-in system could keep a laptop operating weeks before refueling.
The official document refers to the Mag Safe charger for MacBooks. This implies that the tech would not be used for iPhones and iPads, according to The Market Business.
The key feature of the fuel cell system is that it would add little weight to electronics devices, according to CNET. Fuel cells are able to cram tons of energy into a small space.
The battery technology is usually developed for portable gadgets such as music players or mobile phones. It is around the size of a roll of coins. Apple's tech would be unique as it would be imbedded in the electronic devices.
Fuel cells make electricity by combining hydrogen or other fuels with an oxidizing agent such as oxygen or air.
This could provide some major benefits. In addition, they could replace batteries and fossil fuels such as gas and oil.
Apple's patent lists other potential fuels. They include water mixed with sodium and hydrogen compounds, compressed hydrogen gas, and liquid hydrogen.
The British company Intelligent Energy has also recently developed an internal hydrogen fuel cell that can power an iPhone for one week. Such fuel cells produce small amounts of heat and water waste.
In the past Steve Jobs' co-founded company has applied for other fuel cell systems. They include a 2011 system for portable computing devices, and a March filing detailing a fuel cell system to power up mobile devices.