The company also anticipates linking units together in 50 to 100-kilowatt modules for broader applications. The company is now demonstrating the world's first fuel cell-powered golf cart. To realize the full potential of these markets, Astris intends to partner with or license major manufacturers in each field, and has recently received inquiries from large manufacturers of golf carts and utility vehicles, and other prospective strategic partners. However, it has just recently been certified as a full-reporting company by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, clearing the way for Astris to apply for full listing of its common stock on the OTC Bulletin Board service. Both NASA and the Russian space program had chosen AFCs over PEMs to provide electricity, heat and pure water for all manned space vehicles, which certainly made Astris's choice credible.
Fuel cells are like batteries that never run down.
They generate electric power in a chemical reaction between hydrogen gas and oxygen from the air. PEM'S Astris engineers have been engaged in development of alkaline fuel cells for more than 17 years, deciding early on that this concept had both technical and economic advantages over the PEM technology that was being pursued by most other companies in the field. Both NASA and the Russian space program had chosen AFCs over PEMs to provide electricity, heat and pure water for all manned space vehicles, which certainly made Astris' choice credible. Astris has proved that view completely wrong. In fact, AFC's are inherently more economical to produce and operate than PEMs.