UltraCell XX55 Fuel Cell

Ultracell’s new XX55 Fuel Cell is a 5.5 lb.(with fuel and external battery pack) generator that can power an Air Force JTAC’s Battlefield Air Operations (BAO) gear quietly for days using only a handful of methanol cartridges. The fuel cell puts out 55 watts at 4 amps (10-30 volts) so by itself, it can run battlefield electronics of all flavors without breaking a sweat. Over the course of a 72-hour mission, the XX55 could reduce battery weight up to 70% since it can run for days, or even weeks, on a single fuel cartridge.

Where the system shines, though, is when it’s teamed up with a power-managing module, like the BPM-602 from Protonex, that automatically manages outgoing and incoming power from its 6 ports. For example, with a PM box the fuel cell can run a laptop, satcom radio, laser designator and a battery charger while supplementing its output from a solar panel, 12v auto adapter and/or some 5590/2590/8180 military batteries.

The liquid methanol fuel cartridges can be refilled in the field and are light and clean, off gassing only water vapor and a trace amount of methanol. The XX55 has an external AA battery instead of an internal power pack (a little power is needed to start the generator) as requested by the military. This is so they don’t have to be concerned with the charge state of an internal, rechargeable battery.

The fuel cell costs $10,000 and the fuel cartridges are $35 a pop from UltraCell.