H Power Corp. (Clifton, NJ) announced it has formed a joint development agreement with DuPont Fluoroproducts (Wilmington, DE) aimed at developing direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) for portable and mobile applications.
Under the agreement, the two companies will work together to develop direct methanol fuel cell products in the range of 100W to 1,000W, initially targeted to mobile applications such as scooters, bicycles and golf carts. This technology could also be applied to consumer products such as power tools and other battery-replacement applications.
H Power will provide expertise in the area of designing, developing and manufacturing fuel cell stacks and systems where DMFCs can be used. DuPont Fluoroproducts will provide H Power with advanced DMFC materials based on its DuPont Nafion membrane technology, and will cooperate in the design of stacks and components. As part of the agreement, H Power has delivered a proof-of-concept product to a potential customer and intends to deliver an integrated system in the near term.
"We believe that the development and commercialization of portable direct methanol fuel cell products will result in an industry-wide paradigm shift with substantial benefits for consumers," says H. Frank Gibbard, CEO for H Power. "Direct methanol fuel cells will operate consumer products much longer than rechargeable batteries."
