This paper assesses the state of commercialization of fuel cells and c
ompares it with forecasts made at the 1991 Grove Fuel Cell Symposium.
Applications appropriate to different technologies are evaluted and ar
guements are mentioned that each technology should be commercialized f
or those applications, stationary and mobile, for which it is suitable
when it becomes sufficiently technically mature. As with other power
generation technologies, it is agreed that governmental support is nee
ded, not merely to demonstrate the technology, but to take the technol
ogy through to the point where it can compete with conventional altern
atives. Comparisons are drawn between the governmental approach of com
mercialization of fuel cells in Japan, USA and Europe. It has been poi
nted out that phosphoric acid fuel cells have reached sufficient techn
ical maturity and should be brought to the point of competitive commer
cialization. This could happen in the near term and the government fun
ding requirements are modest. Failure to support commercialization of
this technology could put the future for other fuel cell technologies
at risk. Finally, suggestions are made as to how commercialization of
fuel cells could proceed.