Fast Fuel-Cell Forecasts

Industry experts predict 20-hour cell-phone and laptop computer operation with a micro fuel cell. Frost & Sullivan predicts that micro fuel cells will power up to 4 million mobile devices by 2008. Micro fuel-cell unit shipments will reach

Sam Davis 2

Jan. 12, 2006

Industry experts predict 20-hour cell-phone and laptop computer operation with a micro fuel cell.
Frost & Sullivan predicts that micro fuel cells will power up to 4 million mobile devices by 2008.
Micro fuel-cell unit shipments will reach $125.2 million in 2010.
Toshiba and Hitachi expect commercial versions this year.
Micro fuel cells will open a market for replacement cartridges.
Current methanol fuel cells are now rated at 300 Wh/kg, though Manhattan Scientifics expects this to increase tenfold.

About the Author

Sam Davis 2

Sam Davis was the editor-in-chief of Power Electronics Technology magazine and website that is now part of Electronic Design. He has 18 years experience in electronic engineering design and management, six years in public relations and 25 years as a trade press editor. He holds a BSEE from Case-Western Reserve University, and did graduate work at the same school and UCLA. Sam was the editor for PCIM, the predecessor to Power Electronics Technology, from 1984 to 2004. His engineering experience includes circuit and system design for Litton Systems, Bunker-Ramo, Rocketdyne, and Clevite Corporation. Design tasks included analog circuits, display systems, power supplies, underwater ordnance systems, and test systems. He also served as a program manager for a Litton Systems Navy program.

Sam is the author of Computer Data Displays, a book published by Prentice-Hall in the U.S. and Japan in 1969. He also authored the book Managing Electric Vehicle Power. He is also a recipient of the Jesse Neal Award for trade press editorial excellence, and has one patent for naval ship construction that simplifies electronic system integration.

You can also check out additional articles on his other author page.