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Toshiba has announced the launch of a device using direct methanol fuel cell (“DMFC”) technology.  Dubbed the Dynario, it’s a charger for small gadgets like cell phones, mp3 players and digital cameras and will go on sale today on Toshiba’s website.  Methanol fuel cells produce electricity via a reaction between water, air, and methanol, with harmless byproducts like water vapor and carbon dioxide.  This makes it a greener, cleaner energy source than traditional chargers and batteries.

Unfortunately this device comes with a steep price.  The chargers will go for 29,800 yen (about $328 US).  50 milliliter bottles of methanol for refilling the charger will go for 3,150 yen (about $35 US)—one of these bottles will allow the Dynario to charge a cell phone twice.  Right now, it seems like a tremendously impractical device and Toshiba seems to agree.  They are only offering 3,000 for sale and will throw in 5 free bottles of methanol for all purchases made in the next month.  That’s enough for 10 cell phone charges.

The Dynario makes Toshiba the first major consumer electronics maker to offer the new DMFC technology and they say the next step is to make devices with the fuel cells embedded.  One has to wonder how much such cells would add to the price of the device and whether the price of the refills will come down to a reasonable level.

So far Toshiba has no plans to sell the Dynario here in the U.S. and claims to be working on a cell phone containing DMFCs for a Japanese carrier but has no estimated date of release.

Read [PCWorld]