Emphasis will be on the progress fuel cells are making to broaden their use in practical applications. The site provides links to fuel cell manufacturers and other fuel cell organisations. A bulletin board is provided for those who wish to ask questions of and interact with the world of fuel cells. A practical answer to the world's pressing need for clean efficient power. A fuel cell produces electricity by converting the chemical energy of fuel directly to power in a controlled chemical reaction - without combustion and without moving parts.
Fuel cells are therefore inherently ultra clean, highly efficient and reliable.
Fuel cells are now rapidly approaching commercialisation. Fuel cells have just started to cross the bridge from research and demonstration to the point where they are becoming economically competitive with conventional power generation technologies. Practical, competitive fuel cell systems have recently become available and today stationary fuel cell generators are providing power to hundreds of buildings across the world and cost are reducing. Daimler-Benz and Toyota launched prototype fuel cell powered cars in May and October 1996 and the cities of Chicago and Vancouver will introduce small fleets of prototype commercial fuel cell buses over the next two years. Fully competitive buses will become available in 1999 and cars are expected to follow in five to eight years.