Remember the MiniPAK portable fuel cell that’s capable of recharging common electronic devices?  The device, which converts hydrogen stored in a metal hydride solution with oxygen in the air to create electricity, provides four AA batteries worth of electrical power on each refill of its removable HydroSTIK.  The only problem is that users of the MiniPAK must return spent HydroSTIKs to Horizon Fuel Cell for refills.

HydroFILL Station

Consider that problem solved.  Horizon is now accepting pre-orders for its $500 HydroFILL station which allows consumers “to refill solid state canisters in a simple way, using water and electricity as the only input.”  The HydroFILL generates hydrogen and injects it back into the HydroSTIK canisters for use in the MiniPAK fuel cell.  The HydroSTIKs can be refilled more than 250 times, effectively giving consumers more than 1000 AA batteries worth of power throughout their lifespan.

The entire system is expensive, but promising.  Couple this with a Bloom Box fuel cell, and soon we’ll all be living off the grid.