SURE has been selected by Intelligent Energy - a global power technology company - to trial a hydrogen fuel cell portable energy device.
Intelligent Energy has asked Sure to assess the suitability of its fuel cell technology to power various mobile devices.
Over the next few months, Sure will ask selected customers to trial the device and provide feedback.
The device - which generates clean energy - has been designed to meet a growing demand for portable power driven by an ever-increasing need for greater amounts of power for ‘on-the-go’ electronic devices, such as smartphones.
A study of mobile users in the UK - conducted by Intelligent Energy - shows that more than 70 per-cent of users find themselves with a flat or near-flat battery on their mobile device at least once a week.
Mobile operators across the world are keen to find a solution to the problem of battery power not keeping up with customer usage, so that they can deliver the best user experience, earn the loyalty of their customers and also increase the average revenue per user.
Mike Fawkner Corbett, the head of mobile at Sure, said: ‘Fuel cell technology presents an attractive solution to powering our devices off grid, which in turn provides a much longer operating life than a conventional battery. This would enable consumers to stay connected and use their devices for longer, unshackled by the constraints of battery life,’
He added: ‘We are delighted that Intelligent Energy has chosen Sure to trial this cutting-edge technology and we will be working with selected customers to provide valuable feedback.’
John Maguire, chief financial officer at Intelligent Energy, which is based in Loughborough in the UK, said: ‘The constant need to monitor and recharge batteries can mean a loss of productivity, a decreased sense of security and an inability to stay connected when it’s most needed’.
John added: ‘The consumer electronics industry tells us that neither future battery improvements nor power reduction strategies will develop as quickly as needed. 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 and we hope this trial with Sure will be a success.’