A California-based fuel cell manufacturer has been selected to provide portable power for electronic devices during the US Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE) in early 2010. The company, UltraCell, uses a reformed methanol micro fuel cell (RMFC) technology.The AEWE will take place at the Maneuver Battle Lab (MBL) in Fort Benning, Georgia. The event will conduct experiments over a seven-week period through live force-on-force and constructive, virtual land simulations to provide a credible and repeatable venue for network-enabled experimentation.

The UltraCell XX25^TM fuel cell systems will power military equipment including radios, rugged notebook computers, and Long Range Thermal Video (LRTV) systems. In addition, the UltraCell XX25 fuel cell units will be used to recharge military batteries.

The UltraCell XX25 is capable of delivering 72 h of continuous runtime using a single fuel tank, making it a mobile and lightweight source of power.

The AEWE program, which began in 2004, is focused on emerging technologies. It supports the US Army’s efforts to shorten materiel development, and examine future force requirements and constructs through a linked campaign of experimentation.