Opportunities for OEM suppliers of electrical components for fuel cell power systems

There has never been any innovative development in our history that has had the world-wide attention and the dollar investment that has been focused on development of a efficient, cost effective Fuel Cell Power Systems. Fuel cells have been public knowledge for over 150 years so why all the attention now? Governments and Industry have come to realize that we must clean up our environment if we are to survive and both are willing to invest in what seems to be the best alternative toward that goal. The fuel source, cost of the equipment to reform the fuel, the cost of the fuel cell and the efficiency of operation are the focus of the research. This paper points out the major electrical components that affect the cost and efficiency of the fuel cell power system, as well as some of the challenges for how we will best use the direct current power source that will be derived from this development.