Mitsubishi Introduces Residential Fuel Cell

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan) has developed a compact fuel cell for residential applications and expects to start producing samples near the end of 2002. The fuel cell has a generation capacity of approximately 1kW and measures about 2,400cm³. Mitsubishi expects to begin placing prototype systems in households by 2005. The prototype fuel cell is expected to cost between 500,000 (US$4,000) and 600,000 yen (US$4,800) per year during the first few years of availability. The company is aiming to reduce that cost to between 200,000 (US$1,600) and 300,000 yen (US$3,400) per year by 2010.