International Consulting & Contracting Corporation | |||||||||||||||||
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Mail: Post Office Box 1123 La Jolla California 92038-1123 Facsimiles: (44) 171 681 1286 (49) 89 92185 032 (01) 949 498 6206 (41) 1 274 20 74 (01) 619 839 3646 | ||||||||||||||||
| The Technology | |||||||||||||||||
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Today's portable electronic devices, such as cellular and satellite telephones, laptop computers, video cameras, power tools, etc. offer utility to the user only so long as the power supply, the battery, remains charged. Once discharged, the user either loses mobility (tied to an electrical outlet) or loses the capability to use the portable electronic device while remaining mobile. The fuel cell, a novel alternative power supply to the battery, offers the user of the portable electronic device the ability to simultaneously remain mobile and in command of the electronic device. Unlike the battery, the fuel cell can be "instantaneously and mechanically recharged" by simply replacing a spent "fuel" cartridge, no larger than a fountain-pen cartridge, with a fully charged one. Like today's state-of-the-art batteries, the fuel cartridge itself is fully rechargeable and each cartridge is projected to provide twice the energy storage capacity of the battery. Thus, the fuel cell affords the user of the portable electronic device the opportunity to remain mobile and in command of the portable electronic device for extended periods of time with only the infrequent inconvenience of hot swapping a charged cartridge for a spent one. In addition to these important features, the fuel cell offers a number of other advantages when compared to the battery. The fuel cell will be lighter than the battery, will not degrade in performance, is safe and is environmentally benign. While powered by a fuel cell, the overall weight of the portable electronic device will be reduced. Unlike state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries, the fuel cell will not require periodic replacement due to performance degradation, nor will the fuel cell spontaneously ignite when damaged. Furthermore, the fuel cell can either be discarded or recycled (in part) at the conclusion of its useful life without fear of damaging the environment. The potential market for a fuel cell power supply for portable electronic devices is enormous. Cellular phone use alone is projected to grow at a staggering annual compounded rate of 27% over the next five years, with cellular subscribers expected to exceed 830 million by 2003. Not only will demand for portable electronic devices grow, the power requirement of these devices will also grow as they offer ever more capabilities to the user. If the trend of the last five years continues, the power requirement for laptop computers will reach 50 watts in the year 2003. Today's portable telephones and personal digital assistants (PDA) are soon to be integrated into a single device. The consumer's demand for high utility, high-functionality electronic devices will be unsatisfied. The electronic industries have clearly demonstrated the capability to meet consumer's needs; however, mobility and functionality are threatened by inadequate portable power. Even today, the typical laptop user's battery discharges over Kansas on a coast-to-coast flight. It is our intention to develop a portable power supply that enhances the mobility and utility of the user of a portable electronic device. | ||||||||||||||||
| The Goal | |||||||||||||||||
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Our goal is to be the supplier to consumers and OEM's of a portable fuel-cell power supply that meets the mobility and utility needs of the consumer and enables the continued advancement of portable electronic devices. Our primary objective is to bring a fuel-cell power supply to the portable telecommunications market within five years. The suite of products that FC Technologies intends to offer includes the fuel-cell power supply, the fuel cartridge and the cartridge charger. Both the fuel-cell power supply and the cartridge charger will ultimately be bundled and sold through the OEM's conventional distribution channels together with the portable telephone. While a small number of fuel cartridges may also be bundled with the OEM's product, we intend to offer fuel cartridges as an after market product with distribution through both conventional battery and portable telephone retail channels. We will develop the key strategic alliances needed to bring the portable fuel-cell power supply to market within five years. Alliances will be established with the portable telephone OEM's. Such alliances will be essential as the integration of the fuel-cell power supply with the portable telephone will require that a variety of technical specifications be met (power, voltage, form factor, etc.). In addition to facilitating the essential technical interface with the OEM, the strategic alliance will provide the primary means of distribution through the OEM's well-established channels. Alliances will also be sought with appropriate portable telephone battery manufacturers. These alliances will facilitate rapid access to the necessary distribution infrastructure for the fuel cartridges, as well as the manufacturing infrastructure required to produce the fuel-cell power supply, the fuel cartridges and the cartridge charger. The successful formation of the alliances outlined above will depend on the rapid development of a prototype portable fuel cell power supply. A prototype will be an essential element in minimizing perceived risk on the part of the OEM's, thereby facilitating the formation of the desired alliances. Consequently, the first strategic initiative undertaken will be the development and demonstration of a prototype fuel-cell power supply integrated with, and supplying power to, a working portable telephone or laptop computer within two years of start up. The successful demonstration of the prototype portable fuel-cell power supply will be the leverage required to attract and secure the investment required to transition the technology from prototype to market. Prototype development will rely on in-house engineering research, development and testing with outsourcing of fabrication. | ||||||||||||||||
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