Toshiba have launched a limited run of 3000 units of their Methanol Fuel Cell Charger called the Dynario. The charger uses a single 14ml refill of methanol that is able to start charging gadgets within just 20 seconds. A single shot of methanol is able to completely charge two mobile phones.
The Dynario charger runs on a mixture of methanol and atmospheric oxygen, where the chemical reaction between the two in the fuel cell produces electricity. The methanol solution is a concentrated solution that helps to keep the size of the fuel cell to a minimum. Toshiba is cautiously testing the market with just 3000 units, which are only available from Shop1048 in Japan.
The Dynario chargers are selling for around $330 USD, and replacement methanol fuel packs are available for around $6 USD each. There are no immediate plans for worldwide availability, but the test run will probably go very well. I’d expect worldwide availability within 2 years.
Source: Toshiba