A pair of new patent apps show that Apple is eyeing MacBooks that have fuel cells for power. The fuel cell isn’t a new concept, but so far there are no notebooks on the market using them. The fuel cell is cool because there is no charge time, you just add more fuel and you can work indefinitely.

The fuel cell is also very green. Two patent apps have surfaced that hint at the fuel cell machines called “Fuel Cell System to Power a Portable Computing Device” and “Fuel Cell System Coupled to a Portable Computing Device.” The patent apps note that the fuel cell could allow the notebooks to operate for days or weeks with no refueling.

That is a very promising though. To be able to travel for a week with no need for an AC outlet would be great. The fuel cells in the apps would charge a battery in the device. It sounds like the notebook equivalent of the Chevrolet Volt car where a power generator charges the battery. I’d like to see this happen, but I take this with a grain of salt. We have been expecting fuel cells for years now and they have proven very difficult to produce and sell.

via AppleInsider