More run time is simply a gas

The sense of 'electrochemical blandness,' so apparent at Intelec in Rome last year, continued in San Diego last month. Telecom power men are no longer worried about the reliability of batteries – especially lead-acid ones. But now their bosses are worried about huge electricity bills and rising CO2 emissions, fuel cell makers believe this is their moment. The Editor reports.

BEST's summer issue front cover – featuring a "from space" image of Hurricane Katrina descending upon the gulf coast – could not have been more appropriate for a telecom power men gathering at this year's Intelec meeting . . .