Intelligent Energy and Cable & Wireless Communications – in particular its Sure brand serving Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man – will work together to test personal energy devices powered by Intelligent Energy’s PEM fuel cell technology for various mobile devices across their market sectors.
This summer the companies will begin a user trial of an Intelligent Energy portable power device.
The requirement for portable power has grown at an exponential rate, driven by the ever-increasing need for greater amounts of power for our ‘on-the-go’ electronic devices, such as smartphones.
Unfortunately, battery power has not kept pace, and the constant need to maintain battery life has become an area of consumer disappointment. A study of mobile users in the UK conducted by Intelligent Energy, shows that more than 70% of users find themselves with a dead or nearly dead battery at least once a week.
In response, global mobile operators are keen to find a solution to the battery conundrum, so that they can deliver the best user experience, earn the loyalty of their customers, and increase the average revenue per user (ARPU).
‘Intelligent Energy’s cutting-edge technology offers a solution to power our device off-grid, and provides a much longer operating life than a conventional battery,’ says Mike Fawkner Corbett, Sure’s Head of Mobile.
Corbett continues: ‘It’s attractive, as it would unlock real additional revenue opportunities for telecom operators, enabling consumers to stay connected for longer and unshackled by the constraints of battery life.’
Intelligent Energy’s interest in the consumer electronics market is a natural extension of its work in the stationary power sector, where the company offers backup power systems for telecom towers in India.
And in the transport sector, Intelligent Energy is participating in the UKH2Mobility project to support the introduction of fuel cell electric vehicles and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure in the UK, and is also in a joint venture with Suzuki in Japan to produce fuel cell systems for a range of industry sectors.
‘For a lot of people, the constant need to monitor battery life as the day goes by is much more than an inconvenience, it often means loss of productivity, decreased sense of security, and an inability to stay connected when it’s most needed,’ says John Maguire, CFO at Intelligent Energy.
‘The consumer electronics industry tells us that neither future battery improvements nor power reduction strategies will develop as quickly as needed,’ adds Phil Caldwell, Intelligent Energy’s Director of Corporate Development. ‘Intelligent Energy’s portable fuel cell systems offer a durable and cost-effective solution that can be integrated into a wide range of consumer applications.’
The Monaco & Islands division of Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) operates as Sure, supplying telecom services in Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man. Cable & Wireless is also participating in the EcoIsland initiative, under which the Isle of Wight plans to become a net energy exporter by 2020, utilising a smart grid infrastructure.