The Upp™ fuel cell technology from Intelligent Energy delivers power to USB-compatible smartphones, wearable technology such as fitness bands, portable speakers, e-readers, gaming devices, and digital cameras.

The Upp powers devices as quickly as plugging into a wall socket. The flight-friendly portable technology is also ideal for staying powered up and connected while in the air.

The starter pack, consisting of an Upp fuel cell and reusable Upp Cartridge, has a recommended retail price of £149. Empty cartridges can be exchanged for a replacement cartridge for £5.95, while spare cartridges (including fuel) can be purchased for £49.95 each.

A full Upp Cartridge powering a smartphone can typically deliver one week’s worth of power. On average, that means 900 additional hours of standby or 32 hours of call time, 26 hours of video, or an extra 40 hours of web browsing.

‘Upp represents the start of the next generation of energy devices, a signal to the portable electronics market that customers are ready to adopt transformative technologies,’ says Dr Henri Winand, CEO of Intelligent Energy. ‘Consumers want energy independence as the demand and reliance on portable devices accelerates.’

Upp comes with a companion app that provides users with personal usage statistics, fuel cartridge exchange locations, FAQs, and customer support access. The app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store (iOS 5 and higher).

The announcement proves that global technology retailers such as Apple understand the appeal of fuel cells for consumers. The Upp has already been named a 2015 CES Innovation Awards Honoree, in the Portable Power category.