SFC Smart Fuel Cell Receives US Air Force Order to Develop Advanced Airmen Power Supply System

Business Wire, May 22, 2006

BRUNNTHAL, Germany -- SFC Smart Fuel Cell (BCN:F3C)(GER:F3C)(FWB:F3C), technology and market leader in fuel cells for powering mobile and portable applications, has again been selected for providing a fuel cell based power solution to an important military program. In the context of a US Air Force order, SFC is to develop a Fuel Cell based Lightweight Portable Power System for Battlefield Airmen within the next ten months. The value of the development order amounts to US$ 500,000.

SFC has won this tender based on successful completion of the US Air Force Spiral I task to develop a lightweight high efficiency power manager in DT/OT analysis. A further reason for adoption of SFC technology in the US Air Force project is the AFRL proven excellent energy efficiency of the system, based on the use of inexpensive but high energy density methanol. As a consequence, SFC has now been awarded the task to create an advanced power supply system for Airmen for the US Air Force. The power system will consist of three components: an advanced version of SFC's successful lightweight FCPS soldier portable fuel cell, custom engineered to US Air Force specifications, SFC's high efficiency Power Manager, and an innovative Harris PRC 117 interface.

"We are excited to work with SFC. They have demonstrated an ability to design a solution for our rigorous needs and have continued to show increased reliability of lightweight fuel cells and power electronics. We chose SFC for this contract because of their advanced knowledge and experience with pushing fuel cell products into the market and for their ability to respond quickly to our needs. Their products have demonstrated the high energy densities and technical maturity that is necessary to meet the increasing energy demands by our airmen on the ground", says Lt. Josh Johnson, USAF, Contract Manager.

"We are very proud to have been awarded this order by the US Air Force due to the high functionality, reliability, and maturity of our products. The US Air Force is a great partner to work with and we appreciate the fast speed with which they consistently integrate innovative technologies like our fuel cells into their programs and actually field them", says Christian Boehm, SFC Program Manager.

The US Air Force development order for SFC is the latest in a row of development projects with important military organizations in Germany, the US, and several NATO countries. Based on their proven high Technical Readiness Level (TRL), SFC fuel cells are fast becoming the gold standard for soldier portable fuel cell power systems. They form the basis on which SFC, in cooperation with a Human Factor specialist, has developed and produced turnkey, ready to field power solutions for easy integration into existing and future military programs. This high system integration competence is making SFC the partner of choice for reliable portable power solutions in military environments.

SFC (www.smartfuelcell.com) is market leader in fuel cell technologies for mobile and off-grid power applications serving the leisure, industrial and military markets. 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 three years already, and has created a convenient fuel cartridge infrastructure.