More laptop producers are championing fuel cells as a future alternative to more environmentally damaging lithium ion batteries.

Many now want to move away from the traditional stored power batteries currently featuring in laptop computers now that the technology is becoming small enough to provide a realistic alternative.

The fuel cells, which generate electricity by breaking down methanol rather than storing it, can be refilled with methanol when they have run empty.

Toshiba, Hitachi, Samsung, Sanyo and Fujitsu have all shown prototypes of the technology, according to the BBC.

Tomoaki Arimura, of Toshiba's Methanol Fuel Cell Group, said that the firm hoped to begin commercialisation for its PC fuel cell next year.

Many of those who helped test the company's fuel cell had some safety worries about the device, with some even thinking smoke would be produced.

"We've dropped it on its front, its back, its edges, and we've found it to be extremely strong," he told the BBC.

About ten hours of laptop use should be provided by the cells.

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