Last week, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical exhibited a fuel cell-based power supply unit that is small enough to be used in an electric wheelchair. The microwave oven-sized unit, which weighs 22 kg, has an output of 300W and can run for eight hours with a 4-liter fuel tank. Hitachi exhibited a similar power supply unit in July, but it only had an output of 100W with a running time of 2.5 hours.
Interestingly, Mitsubishi and Suzuki are jointly promoting the development of an electric wheelchair using the fuel cell unit. The long-lasting fuel cell provides an advantage over traditional rechargeable batteries, which are prone to exhaustion. Wheelchairs only require a 300W unit since they move relatively slowly.
The electric wheelchair/fuel cell combo is still in testing stages, but look for it on the market in the near future.
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