Brunnthal/Munich, Germany-- SFC Smart Fuel Cell, leading supplier of fuel cell products for mobile and off-grid power applications today announced that two portable fuel cell systems integrating SFC technology won first and third prizes in the U.S. Defense Department’s Wearable Power Competition. The Depart-ment of Defense Research and Engineering established the Wearable Power Compe-tition in 2007 to encourage innovation in energy systems carried by personnel during field missions. Attached to a standard military vest, the systems were required to provide 20W of average electric power for 96 hours, meet brief peak-power demand of up to 200W and weigh no more than 4 kg (8.8 pounds) and pass a simulated field use. 

The two fuel cells integrating SFC technology competed with nearly 170 entries in the inaugural Wearable Power Competition. In a team effort with DuPont, the new groundbreaking SFC electrical power system, the M-25 Portable Fuel Cell, won the $1 million first prize. The company’s JENNY fuel cell, entered SFC’s partner Capitol Con-nections LLC of Middleburg, Va., won $250,000 for third prize in the competition. The 
M-25, which combines DuPont’s direct methanol technology with SFC’s commercially proven fuel cell systems, products, and integration expertise, was deployed for lim-ited use in the field for the U.S. Army earlier this year. 

In both systems, the hybrid battery was still fully charged, with substantial amounts of fuel left in the cartridge at the end of the demanding 96-hour test protocol. This shows that both systems had still plenty of capacity even in these harsh test scenar-ios.

“We are extremely proud our portable power systems have performed so well in this rigorous Department of Defense competition against so many competing technolo-gies,” said Dr. Peter Podesser, CEO of SFC Smart Fuel Cell. “Fuel cells are the portable and off-grid power sources of the future, and SFC has established its leadership in providing systems that meet a wide range of defense, industrial and consumer appli-cations.”

SFC further expands U.S. market position
In addition to the two prizes in the Department of Defense Competition SFC has fur-ther strengthened its presence in the U.S. with the opening of a sales and technical service office in Atlanta, Georgia. With this office the company is reacting to the growing interest of U.S. industry and defense customers.

“The United States is a key and fast-growing market for SFC and our new office is in-tended to be our first step towards establishing full U.S. operations. Establishing a team of SFC experts on the East Coast will enable us to work even more closely with our defense and commercial partners,” said Podesser. “The new headquarters in the U.S. will serve to further enhance our collaboration with our technology partners as well as help us to increase our market penetration into the U.S.”
About SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG

SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG (www.sfc.com) is market leader in fuel cell technologies for mobile and off-grid power applications serving the leisure, industrial and defense markets. As one of Germany’s technology pioneers, SFC has won numerous innovation awards. SFC has alliances with leading companies in a wide range of industries. Unlike most other fuel cell manufacturers, who are in the research and development phase or run subsidized demonstration projects, SFC has shipped fully commercial products to industrial and private end users for more than four years, and has created a convenient fuel cartridge supply infrastructure. SFC is DIN ISO 9001:2000 certified. SFC is based in Brunnthal, Germany, and has a U.S. sales and technical service office in Atlanta.