News

U.S. Department of Defense Review Represents Major Milestone

DuPont Fuel Cells and SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG today announced the U.S. Department of Defense has completed a successful initial review of its program to introduce a revolutionary lightweight, portable power system for soldiers in the field. 

The program was recently reviewed at SFC’s facilities by the U.S. Army’s Defense Acquisition Challenge Program (DACP) government team.  The goal is to successfully pass two additional Army reviews, which, if achieved, may lead to a low volume initial production award by the U.S. Army.  DuPont Fuel Cells and SFC project completion of these reviews in 2008.

The M-25 Land Warrior Soldier Power Generator System (LW SPGS) combines DuPont Fuel Cell’s direct methanol technology with SFC’s off-the-shelf fuel cell systems, products, and integration expertise.  The M-25 LW SPGS consists of SFC’s fuel cell system (1.5 lbs/0.7 kg), a hybrid Ultralife Battery Inc. LI-145 battery (2 lbs/1 kg), DuPont Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEAs), and soldier fuel pouches.  This system is designed to be part of a mission modular power capability integrated onto the soldier’s ensemble.  The goal of the M-25 LW SPGS is to provide mission weight savings of up to 80 percent over conventional power sources for long duration missions.  If successful, it would have the capability to revolutionize wearable portable power sources in the field, by easily extending soldier mission times to 72 hours and beyond.  The M-25 LW SPGS would be able to power a wide range of soldier equipment such as GPS navigation, communications, computers, sensors (unattended ground, buried and others), C4ISR gear, robots, UAVs, etc.  Additional advantages would be unparalleled high energy density, safe and easy handling, low-weight, and considerably reduced logistics costs.

“The DuPont/SFC team has been very responsive to date in complying with the U.S. Army technical and programmatic requirements to bring forward this potentially revolutionary soldier power technology,” said David Troxel, technical director for PM Soldier Warrior.  “We are looking forward to the completion of this product for soldier use in the field.  This product and its technology could offer a significant advancement in the area of soldier portable power on the battlefield.”

“This successful major review demonstrates the DuPont/SFC team’s commitment to U.S. Army soldiers.  It shows our understanding of the U.S. Army’s requirements and our ability to realize customer specific products,” said Christian Boehm, director of military business development at SFC.  “Our historically rapid pace of system packaging at SFC is based upon our long expertise in the commercialization of fuel cells for industry and leisure applications.  Our objective is to turn this competitive edge into a clear benefit for the U.S. Army.”

“DuPont Fuel Cells is pleased to be a part of this effort to improve the capability of soldiers in the field through our advanced materials,” said Richard Okine, director, DuPont Fuel Cells.  “Working in cooperation with SFC, a market leader in fuel cell systems for mobile and off-grid power applications, makes it a winning combination.”

SFC (www.efoy.com) is the 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 most successful technology pioneers, SFC has won numerous innovation awards.  In a U.S. Navy Assessment in 2005, SFC was awarded the highest score for technical maturity of all fuel cell products.  SFC has alliances with the German Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force and other leading military organizations.  Unlike most other fuel cell players, who are still in the R&D phase or run highly subsidized demonstration projects, SFC has been shipping fully commercial products to industrial and private end users for more than three years, and has created a convenient fuel cartridge supply infrastructure.  SFC is DIN ISO 9001:2000 certified.

DuPont Fuel Cells is a technology and market development organization enabling the advancement of fuel cell technology and products with leading players in the industry.  By driving the technology to make fuel cells a commercial reality in the near and long term, its mission is to become the leading global supplier of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell membranes and components, to power automobiles, electronics, and residences.  For more information, please visit http://www.fuelcells.dupont.com.  For more information about SFC Smart Fuel Cell, visit http://www.efoy.com .

DuPont – one of the first companies to publicly establish environmental goals 20 years ago – has broadened its sustainability commitments beyond internal footprint reduction to include market-driven targets for both revenue and research and development investment. The goals are tied directly to business growth, specifically to the development of safer and environmentally improved new products for key global markets.

DuPont is a science-based products and services company.  Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere.  Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.

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Contact: 
Ellen G. Pressley
919-248-5598
ellen.g.pressley@usa.dupont.com