US Army Small Fuel Cell Development Program

This presentation includes results of fuel cell research activities sponsored by the US Army for the last three years. It outlines current efforts and future plans. The soldier’s increasing power demands dictate that alternatives to batteries be exploited wherever possible. Fuel cells promise significant advantages in terms of weight, coupled with cost and/or logistics benefits. Considerable progress has been made in reducing size and weight of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. The supply of hydrogen to PEM fuel cells has been one of the key barriers to introducing fuel cells to the military. The discussion will focus on several approaches being pursued.