Patent ID: 7914945

Claim:
A fuel storage unit for use in a fuel cell management system comprising a power unit and a refill unit, the fuel storage unit comprising: a removable fuel vessel operable to store the fuel; memory to store data which is representative of at least one operating parameter of the fuel storage unit; a fuel storage unit control system operable to determine, monitor, manage and/or control the parameter; and a fuel storage unit interface comprising: a fuel storage unit mechanical interface; and a fuel storage unit communications interface, wherein a mechanical interface of the power unit and the fuel storage unit mechanical interface are respectively operable to permit holding, retention and/or engagement between the power unit and the fuel storage unit, and a fluid interface therebetween permits fluid communication of the fuel between the fuel storage unit and the power unit, wherein a communications interface of the power unit and the communications interface of the fuel storage unit are respectively operable to provide communications between a control system of the power unit and the control system of the fuel storage unit; wherein a mechanical interface of the refill unit and the fuel storage unit mechanical interface are respectively operable to permit holding, retention and/or engagement between the refill unit and the fuel storage unit, and a fluid interface therebetween permits fluid communication of the fuel between the fuel storage unit and the refill unit, and wherein a communications interface of the refill unit and the communications interface of the fuel storage unit are respectively operable to provide communications between a control system of the refill unit and the control system of the fuel storage unit.