Researchers Develop Potato-powered Batteries

There goes the price of potatoes....

didnt I do this in science class 20 yrs ago?

How many do i need to recharge my laptop or use as a UPS?

Hope they can power up "iTouches" as you use to call them lol.

A prius that puts along on potato power would be interesting.

I've definitely done this in Science class. Lead and Magnesium works quite well

On other news, researchers and experts discovered a smooth-on-all-edge funny looking device which enables long range travel with ease... they call it, the wheels. Citizens excite!

Tasty technology = The best kind of technology.

I did it with an electrolytic solution in an electrical theory class using zinc and iron conductors.

Good luck competing with fast food restaurants like McDonald's for potato

Great, now I can use these boiled spuds to cook my bangers, brown bread and some bubble and squeak!

I think these re-searchers stole my kindergarten project. I have a concept design...could de-hydrate these potatoes and then burn them in a thermal generator. Would get a lot more power output mind you you could just put a couple of solar cells in its place and still be ahead. It looks like it is powering a LED diode. I pretty much think that it would be much more necessary to EAT these potatoes rather than power a led.

wow it's already commercially available too!

http://www.google.com/products/cat [...] DMQ8wIwAg#

This is NOT renewable energy. The energy comes from the fact that the zinc was reduced from its oxide using carbon. The method poisons the potato with zinc ions yet uses none of the renewable energy in the carbohydrate of the potato. If the same zinc was used in a regular battery, the used battery could be recycled, but here the zinc ions are injected straight into the biosphere. The author's claims about the cost benefits are downright dishonest. They compare buying one battery from the most expensive retailer I have seen with raw metal prices in the London Metal Exchange. This battery could not even recover the energy needed to boil the potato in the first place. Here is a professor doing schoolboy experiments and dressing them up as a solution to the energy problems of the third world. Really all he is proposing is a way of poisoning the ground, or worse, an unsuspecting hungry person

I read the Hot Hardware article thinking something was left out, but nope. Seems the research focuses solely on boiling the potato to produce a better electrolyte. This is definitely grade school stuff, the potato is not the energy source, and a magnesium-copper reaction would be better, but zinc is easier to obtain. Notice how many potato "cells" are used for the LED, which is about all you could power with such a minuscule amperage. I'm guessing an output of maybe 5 milliwatts?

The superficial appeal of this new invention is great. The technology will have niche applications in potato rich/resource poor regions of the world, Eastern Europe perhaps ??? The opportunity cost of using edible food for electricity generation rather than calories will depend on the setting. Vegetable power will never fill the global energy void. Other solutions should be sought.

Nuclear energy is a boon for humankind. There are energy deficits all throughout the world. Without reliable energy streams a nation cannot raise its general welfare. Israel runs on 7000 MW per capita; Norway 24,000 MW. Colder climates need more energy; Haiti 80 MW. No explanation needed. The potential of nuclear desalination plants is also profound. A literal Ganeden down here on terra firma is predicated on the supply of reliable energy sources. There is enormous energy able to be unlocked in a single atom. The universe is full of energy. G-d’s power is limitless. The matrix of abundance lies within our reach. All it requires is the right moves.

OPEC will change it's meaning to Organization of Potato Exporting Countries

This was done years ago. In the 80's (and possibly today) you could buy a digital alarm clock that ran on two raw potatoes.

Nothing new here, go back to your home you looky-loos...

I remember using potatoes to light up a light bulb back as a 6th grade science fair project, over 20 years ago!

Hey anybody remember Parker Lewis Can't Lose when Kubiac stuffs a potato in a flashlight and calls it "Spud Light" Wow the memories...lol

What happens to the potatoes after the charge is spent? French Fries? Baked Potato? Potato Chips? Compost probably.

Wouldn't you need some kind of air tight container to keep the cooked potatos in? Seems like they would rot and stink after a few days.

POTATOES?! Bah! Inferior technology!

A long time ago it has been established that lemons yield better electrical results.

A long time being, during my 4th grade science project. :|

Can you use mashed potatoes?

I can't believe this junk gets news still. I was originally reading the article thinking they made some break through. Meanwhile they learned how to boil a potato, with neglegable improvements. People sensationalize things that should just be buried (pardon pun)

Can I eat them after I drained them of their energy?

"This was done years ago. In the 80's (and possibly today) you could buy a digital alarm clock that ran on two raw potatoes."

Yes, but it was not done by the geniuses that are doing it now, and besides, they had the brilliant realization that boiling the potato improves matters, clearly a breakthrough beyond ordinary imagination. Impressive research coming out of Hebrew University! Truly original work.

BUT is the total energy output of the potatoes larger than the energy put in to boiling them? With every new source of energy, people seem to forget you don't get something for nothing. Please tell me this isn't just another "oh look, it appears our problems are solved! Wait, that wasn't such a good idea..."