SUNNYVALE, CA – March 7, 2003 – According
to a new report U.S. & EC Micro and Small
Fuel Cell R&D, Commercial Implication and Market/Industry
Trends from MRG, Inc. and Fuji-Keizai USA,
power consumption exists as one of the most serious
challenges to the continuing mobile device and power
generation evolution. With the advancement in processor
and display technology far outpacing similar advancement
in battery technology, electronics suppliers must
develop careful power consumption strategies. As a
result, significant resources are being devoted to
finding the next major battery chemistry improvement.
One of the most promising approaches for providing
high energy density and longer runtime of electronic
devices is a class of electrochemical cells that use
air-breathing electrodes such as metal-air cells and
hydrogen fuel cells.
Global Perspective:
According to Jeremy Rifkin, President of the Foundation
of Economic Trends in Washington and author of The
Hydrogen Economy, “a new energy regime is being
born that has the potential to remake civilization
along radical lines.” He anticipates that hydrogen,
which is “the most basic and ubiquitous element
in the universe”, can be stored in a fuel cell
and used to generate electricity for power, heat,
and light.
Technical Perspective:
The report examines how fuel cells have the theoretical
potential to increase the energy density to a higher
level than most advanced battery technologies. It
investigates fuel cell units in an electrical power
output ranging from less than 1 watt to around several
hundred watts; and profiles for those companies that
are at the forefront of research and development of
this new technology.
Despite the theoretical potential of fuel cells to
increase the energy density to a higher level than
most advanced battery technologies, there were few
incidents of significant development work in portable
fuel cells until the early 1990s, and most companies
in this market have only produced one or two prototypes.
This report examines 46 fuel cell companies in the
micro and small fuel cell markets; 25 research and
development companies and institutes; 10 component
companies; 3 nanotechnology component companies; and
8 testing measurement and consulting companies. The
study also analyzes fuel cell trends in areas such
as marketing, research and development, category,
technology, product development, commercialization,
capital markets, patents, and strategic alliance.
Finally, the report examines the different fuel cell
technologies such as Proton Exchange Membrane, Alkaline,
Direct Methanol, and Zinc-Air.
U.S. & EC Micro and Small Fuel Cell
R&D, Commercial Implication and Market/Industry
Trends is 182 pages and available in an English
or Japanese-language edition for US $998.00 each.
To order or request information, contact Veronica
Phanthavong at 408-524-9767 or info@mrgco.com.
*Source: Rifkin, Jeremy. “Hydrogen will make
oil companies obsolete and let people generate all
their own energy.” The Guardian, 17 Sept. 2002.
Report Description
Table of Contents
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