Are fuel cells being used in applications today?
Most fuel cell applications are in demonstration or early commercialization phases. Currently the most promising applications are using fuel cells for “remote power” or distributed generation, such as off-grid homes, weather monitor stations, telecommunication infrastructure, or onsite grid-integrated stationary power or CHP. Fuel cells are also being developed for use as portable power for electronic devices, such as cell phones or laptop computers. Ultimately, research and development teams want to achieve market-viable vehicular power for automobiles, trucks, boats, etc. There is a plethora of fuel cell vehicle prototypes developed in the industry. Issues of per-horsepower cost based on fuel storage issues that impact weight and range of the vehicles hinder the cost competitiveness of these vehicles compared to internal combustion engines.
