Big Fuel Cells, Small Fuel Cells

April 28, 2002 – Vol.7 No.5

BIG FUEL CELLS, SMALL FUEL CELLS.

Utility grade fuel cells (250 kilowatt and up) and small fuel cells (5 kilowatt and below) seem to be the closest to full commercialization and adoption by consumers, business and industry.

(It’s the large, vehicle-sized ones (50 kilowatt plus) that pose the biggest challenge for development and commercialization.)

Manhattan Scientifics and European scooter maker Aprilia have announced a second-generation concept scooter known as the Mojito FC. Sharing its name with the rum-mint cocktail from Cuba, the Mojito has a 3 kilowatt fuel cell that should power the scooter for 120 miles on one fueling of pressurized hydrogen. The scooter would have top speed of 35 miles per hour.

Trimol Group is moving ahead with efforts to commercialize metal-air fuel cells utilizing Aluminum-Power’s aluminum-air technology. Aluminum-Power has developed a prototype 1.5 kilowatt fuel cell that would be used for back-up and emergency power situations.

Caterpillar and Fuel Cell Energy have formed a ten-year alliance to develop and distribute 250 kilowatt to 3 megawatt fuel cells for grid-connected or distributed generation applications. Along with Fuel Cell’s experience in the products of its name, the alliance will make the best use of Caterpillar’s well-known name and experience in systems packaging, electronics, power conditioning and gas turbines. Gas turbines may be integrated into the forthcoming products.

Visit Trimol at http://www.trimolgroup.com/ , Aluminum-Power at http://www.aluminum-power.com/ , Fuel Cell Energy at http://www.fuelcellenergy.com/ , Caterpillar at http://www.CAT.com/ , Manhattan Scientifics at http://www.mhtx.com/ .