Proton agrees fuel-cell deal

Proton Power has made an exclusive agreement with one of the largest defence companies in the US to sell its fuel-cell power systems for future military and civilian applications.

Under the agreement, L-3 Communications Combat Propulsion Systems (L-3 CPS) will market and sell Proton Power’s Fuel Cell Power Systems for use in propulsion systems, marine and Universal Power Supply (UPS) applications to the North American military and civilian applications market.

Proton Power’s Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell runs on pure hydrogen and converts hydrogen into electrical energy with a claimed efficiency of close to 50 per cent.

When combined with thermal-energy conversion for use in UPS applications, the efficiencies are claimed to reach over 90 per cent.

Thomas Melczer, chief executive of Proton Power, said the company’s merger with L-3 CPS, a division of L-3, the sixth largest defence company in the US, will increase its product’s presence in North America.

‘North America is a lead market for fuel-cell technology,’ he said. ‘Together with L-3 CPS, we plan to play a leading role in that market.’