Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies is approaching the issue of selling fuel cells by developing small units meant for use on radio-controlled cars. This is an interesting approach because the RC vehicle community has proved itself to be a fertile proving ground for battery technology.
As I explore battery technology for electric vehicles the best resources tend to be the RC enthusiasts. While RC vehicles used to be driven by gas engines, many have embraced battery technology and are at the leading edge of lithium-ion battery technology.
The Horizon website shows a product line from small fuel cells, with a 12 watt output to large ones with 1000 watt output. What is most exciting is you can actually buy the fuel cells, but what I don't know is once you buy one where do you get the hydrogen. One of the products is a kit, the H-Racer, which includes a 30 watt fuel cell, three 10 liter hydrogen canisters, and some extra doodads which allow the units to be installed in a standard RC car body. The CNET article discusses a portable fueling station which can electrolyze water to generate hydrogen, but it doesn't appear to be in the kit as described on the Horizon web site.
Their 100 watt unit draws 1.3 liters of hydrogen per minute to produce 12 volt 8.4A (max rate). They also offer 10L and 20L storage units, and at the above rate the 20L storage unit would be depleted in under 20 minutes. A 100 watt rate is not even enough power to drive a bicycle.
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