LIPA installs three more Plug Power cogeneration fuel cells

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 28 KB
• Volume: 2003
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1464-2859
• DOI: 10.1016/s1464-2859(03)01013-7

✦ Synopsis

Sanyo Electric to develop and market small fuel cells

Osaka-based Li-ion battery manufacturer Sanyo Electric plans to commercialize by 2005 small direct methanol fuel cells to power portable electronic devices such as notebook computers and cellular phones, according to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun. The devices would be refueled with methanol cartridges, one of which would allow continuous use of a device for two to three times longer than a conventional Li-ion battery.

The company has already set up a special development team at a facility in Gunma Prefecture. By using technology already being developed for residential fuel cells, it aims to expedite development and commercialization of micro fuel cells for use in electronic devices.

Sanyo Electric apparently intends to keep the size and price of the fuel cells about the same as existing Li-ion batteries. The company, which already supplies Li-ion batteries to overseas manufacturers such as Nokia, plans to market its fuel cells in Japan and overseas.

Other Japanese companies such as NEC, Toshiba, Hitachi, Sony and Casio Computer are also developing small fuel cells. NEC and Toshiba plan to launch notebook computers with built-in fuel cells next year [FCB, August], but Sanyo Electric will be the first to mainly market small fuel cells to other manufacturers.