Practical fuel cells were used in the early US manned space program. Fuel cells are of interest for any device that requires electricity, but are of special interest for mobile or portable devices that currently rely on batteries or a gasoline generator for electrical power. Electric vehicle applications are among the most actively studied, largely because of increasingly strict air pollution requirements for vehicle manufacturers. Battery powered electric vehicles have no local emissions but have limited range. Fuel cell powered electric vehicles have low emission achieved by direct conversion of chemical to electrical energy.
Range is a function of the fuel, which is either pure hydrogen or methanol.
Participants were from companies manufacturing fuel cells, from car manufacturing companies, and from universities and laboratories in about 17 countries. Workshop topics can be roughly classified into the 4 categories below. Result of NEDO project and test products of stacks with 1 kwh output. Technology of fuel gas reformers. Tests of PEFC-powered cars.