CBC,
a company that manufactures and markets lens units for monitoring cameras,
among other products, presented a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)-based portable
power supply unit manufactured by Mesoscopic Devices of the US at the 3rd
International Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Expo.
This portable power supply unit was
a 75-W output product using TOTO's fuel cell system. This fuel cell system
is unique as it allows use of coal oil and LP gas as fuel. The power supply
unit features 36 cells and its operating temperature reaches 700 °C.
CBC, who provides capital in Mesoscopic
Devices, intends to commercialize the portable power supply unit for consumers
as early as 2008. The company said its initial goal is to market the product
as a power supply unit for cameras in the monitoring camera market, in
which it boasts a large share. "It may be a niche market, but we project
to achieve unit sales growth by selling the product worldwide," said the
company spokesperson.
CBC plans to manufacture this portable
power supply unit in Japan. The spokesperson stated the company intends
to acquire safety and other necessary approvals for marketing in Japan
through conducting proving tests for the portable power supply unit mounting
TOTO's cells in 2007.
Mesoscopic Devices plans to soon
commercialize this portable power supply unit first for military application,
but without using TOTO's cells for it. This is due to TOTO's policy to
supply its cells only for consumer or industrial applications. Mesoscopic
Devices will, however, advance development of a same-capacity portable
power supply unit able to output 250 W using TOTO's cells.

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