Toshiba's direct methanol fuel cell will be certified as the World's smallest in the 2006 edition of the Guiness Book of Records.

It is said that it can power a small music player for 20 hours on a single charge of highly concentrated methanol. The cell is 56 mm in length, 22 mm wide and 9.1 mm high with a full tank.

Toshiba hopes to release a commercial version this year for small hand-held devices.

Hitachi also have plans to release a DMFC powered PDA this year.

Charging these things up from a canistor of methanol takes seconds. So, similar to refueling a cigarette lighter.

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