OK, this is a thing that really makes me want to have it, just because it is such a cool thingie, not because I have a real need for it.
Swedish company myFC has launched their PowerTrekk portable hydrogen fuel cell/handheld device charger. It's a little plastic thing in which you put a power pod in one slot, and a splash of water in another slot, and then it starts using the hydrogen in the water to produce electricity which is stored in an on-board battery, thanks to some very nifty power control electronics. Apparently, the designers have done some clever things with membranes that strip protons and push them back and forth, in a extremely small package.
Not cheap, but for someone who works in the field a lot, I am sure that this could be a very, very helpful thing. For me, there's also the aspect of having read about portable fuel cells in various SF role-playing games I played when I was younger, and now, there is actually one available that's both smaller and more efficient than the ones posted in the equipment lists of the supposed scinece fiction far future... :D
Available in Sweden and USA for now, but might get more widespread distribution later on. SEK 1800 (€ 195, USD 255) for the charger/battery itself, and SEK 150:- (€16, USD 21) for a packet of three single-use power pods, supplying about 4Wh of energy per pod.
http://powertrekk.com/ (http://powertrekk.com/)
Amazing - except perhaps for desert treks. But even if I couldn't get it shipped, I can't see how you get it into the shopping baasket?
I don't think they have a functioning online shop yet.
You can order it from Swedish retail supplier Naturkompaniet,
www.naturkompaniet.se (http://www.naturkompaniet.se), and, apparently, a US chain called REI.
I do know that Naturkompaniet ships to most EU locations, but I suspect they might be quite pricey.
Still, it is a very nifty thing, isn't it? ;)
Nifty, yes, and darn expensive!
It seems to cost 18 pence in GBP.
For that price, you could get one for Lindorm & ship it to him... ;)