New applications for portable fuel cell technologies continue to be realized across a host of market sectors. In recent years, fuel cell manufacturers and electronics companies and distributors have sought to demonstrate their respective technologies across these new applications in preparation for large-scale commercialization and development. While key challenges still remain for the industry, most notably issues related to cost and technology standards, Pike Research believes that the current period of product development will lead to commercialization for portable fuel cells at an increasingly larger scale beginning in the 2015 timeframe.
External battery chargers are a key area of market opportunity for portable fuel cells and Pike Research anticipates that this category will lead in terms of unit shipments over the next several years. In addition, new niche markets such as environmental remote monitoring have also been recognized as promising areas for fuel cells, which can offer substantial benefits compared to generators. Military man-portable applications such as remote monitoring/sensing and mobile soldier power remain a strong area of focus for fuel cell developers, as well, and are expected to be the largest revenue category for portable fuel cells given the high average cost per unit. The consumer electronics market, though it has enormous long-term potential, is not expected to be a significant percentage of total portable fuel cell shipments between now and 2017.
This Pike Research report provides a comprehensive examination of applications for portable fuel cells, including portable electronics, external battery chargers, remote monitoring, and military applications. Key technology and business issues are analyzed in depth, and major players in the fuel cell supply chain are profiled. Market forecasts for unit shipments and revenue growth, segmented by application area, are provided through 2017.
Key Questions Addressed:
- What are the most promising applications for portable fuel cells?
- Who are the leading companies operating within the portable fuel cell industry?
- What fuel cell technologies are being developed for portable applications?
- What is the revenue potential for the portable fuel cell market through 2017?
- How many portable units will be shipped through 2017?
Who needs this report?
- Fuel cell manufacturers
- Electronics manufacturers
- Potential industry investors
- Government agencies
- Industry associations
- Investor community
- Military
Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary
1.1 Introduction: Portable Fuel Cells
1.2 Portable Fuel Cell Sector Forecast
2. Market Issues
2.1 Market Overview
2.2 Market Definitions
2.3 Portable Fuel Cells: Trends and Drivers
2.3.1 Emissions Facts
2.3.2 Consumer Preferences
2.3.3 The Economic Advantage of Fuel Cells
2.3.4 A Safe Technology
2.3.5 Policies and Funding
2.3.5.1 The DOE Fuel Cell Technologies Program
2.3.5.2 The American Recovery and Rehabilitation Act of 2009
2.3.5.2.1. Recovery Act Projects Funded for the Portable Fuel Cell Market Transformation
2.3.6 Military Drivers
2.3.6.1 Military Funding
2.3.6.1.1. DARPA
2.3.6.1.2. SBIR and STTR
2.3.6.1.3. U.S. Navy
2.3.6.1.4. U.S. Army
2.3.6.1.5. U.S. Air Force
2.4 Consumer Electronics
2.4.1 Market Overview
2.4.2 Digital Cameras
2.4.2.1 Market Overview
2.4.2.2 Market Size
2.4.2.3 Pricing
2.4.2.4 Major Stakeholders
2.4.2.5 Fuel Cell Activities
2.4.3 Smartphones
2.4.3.1 Market Overview
2.4.3.2 Market Size
2.4.3.3 Pricing
2.4.3.4 Market Stakeholders
2.4.3.5 Fuel Cell Activities
2.4.4 Tablet PCs
2.4.4.1 Market Overview
2.4.4.2 Market Size
2.4.4.3 Pricing
2.4.4.4 Market Stakeholders
2.4.4.5 Fuel Cell Developments 2009-2011
2.4.5 Laptop Computers
2.4.5.1 Market Overview
2.4.5.2 Market Size
2.4.5.3 Pricing
2.4.5.4 Major Stakeholders
2.4.5.5 Fuel Cell Developments
2.5 Remote Monitoring
2.5.1 Introduction
2.5.2 Market Size
2.5.3 Pricing
2.5.4 Market Stakeholders
2.5.5 Fuel Cell Developments
2.6 Military Applications
2.6.1 Introduction
2.6.2 Portable Soldier Power
2.6.3 Remote Monitoring/Sensors
2.6.3.1 Market Overview
2.6.3.2 Market Size
2.6.3.3 Pricing
2.6.3.4 Fuel Cell Developments
2.6.3.5 Market Stakeholders
2.6.4 Mobile Soldier Power
2.6.4.1 Market Overview
2.6.4.2 Market Size
2.6.4.3 Pricing
2.6.4.4 Mobile Soldier Power Fuel Cell Developments
2.6.5 Additional Applications
2.6.5.1 Portable Power Generation
2.6.5.2 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
2.7 Beyond: Additional Applications
2.7.1 Portable Power Generation
2.7.2 Cordless Power Tools
2.8 Summary
3. Technology Issues
3.1 Technology
3.1.1 Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell
3.1.2 Methanol Units – Direct and Indirect/Reformed Methanol Fuel Cell
3.1.3 Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC)
3.2 Market Barriers
3.2.1 Financial Cost
3.2.2 Integration
3.2.3 Supply Chain
3.2.3.1 Stack Manufacturing
3.2.3.2 Component Standards
3.2.3.3 Vertical Integration
3.2.4 Adequacy of Maintenance Resources and Serviceability
3.2.5 Availability and Reliability of Delivery Support Infrastructure
3.2.6 Fuel Availability
3.2.7 Batteries versus Fuel Cells
3.2.7.1 Pricing
3.2.7.2 Materials
3.3 Military Barriers
3.3.1 The Gap between Products and Prototypes
4. Market Forecasts
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Portable Fuel Cell Unit Shipments by Application
4.2.1 External Fuel Cell Battery Chargers
4.2.2 Internal Fuel Cells
4.2.3 Remote Monitoring
4.2.4 Military
4.3 Portable Fuel Cell Shipments: Megawatts
4.4 Portable Fuel Cell Shipments by Revenue
4.5 Portable Fuel Cell Shipments by Region
4.6 Summary
5. Key Industry Players
5.1 Adaptive Materials, Inc.
5.2 Akermin
5.3 Aquafairy Co.
5.4 Ballard Power Systems Inc.
5.5 Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Corp. (DMFCC)
5.6 Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies (HFCT)
5.7 Hydrogenics Corp.
5.8 IdaTech PLC
5.9 Jadoo Power
5.10 Lilliputian Systems
5.11 MTI Microfuel Cells Inc.
5.12 myFC
5.13 NanoDynamics
5.14 Neah Power Systems, Inc.
5.15 Nedstack
5.16 Oorja Protonics
5.17 Protonex Technology Corp.
5.18 Sandpiper Technologies
5.19 SFC Energy
5.20 Trulite, Inc.
5.21 UltraCell Corp.
6. Company Directory
7. Acronym and Abbreviation List
8. Table of Contents
9. Table of Charts and Figures
10. Scope of Study, Sources and Methodology, Notes
List of Charts and Figures
- Portable Fuel Cells Revenue by Application Group, World Markets: 2011-2017
- Smartphone Component Costs by Component: 2010
- Profit Margins on Four Smartphones: 2010
- iPhone Profit vs. Fuel Cell Cost: 2010
- Portable Fuel Cell Shipments by Application Group, World Markets: 2011-2017
- External Fuel Cell Battery Charger Shipments for Portable Electronics, World Markets: 2011-2017
- Internal Fuel Cell Shipments for Portable Electronics, World Markets: 2011-2017
- Portable Fuel Cell Shipments for Remote Monitoring, World Markets: 2011-2017
- Portable Fuel Cell Shipments for Military Applications,
World Markets: 2011-2017 - Portable Fuel Cell Megawatts Shipped by Application Group,
World Markets: 2011-2017 - Portable Fuel Cells Revenue by Application Group, World Markets: 2011-2017
- Portable Fuel Cell Shipments by Region, World Markets: 2011
- Portable Fuel Cell Shipments by Region, World Markets: 2017
- Fuel Cell Funding Under ARRA 2009
List of Tables
- Portable Fuel Cells Revenue by Application Group, World Markets: 2011-2017
- Portable Fuel Cells Shipments by Application Group, World Markets: 2011-2017
- External Fuel Cell Battery Chargers for Portable Electronics Shipments, World Markets: 2011-2017
- Internal Fuel Cells for Portable Electronics Shipments,
World Markets: 2011-2017 - Portable Fuel Cells for Remote Monitoring Shipments,
World Markets: 2011-2017 - Portable Fuel Cells for Military Applications Shipments,
World Markets: 2011-2017 - Portable Fuel Cell Megawatts Shipments by Application Group, World Markets: 2011-2017
- Portable Fuel Cell Shipments by Region, World Markets: 2011
- Portable Fuel Cell Shipments by Region, World Markets: 2017