FCpHI - Fuel Cell Powered Hearing Aids

The overall goal of the project is to launch a novel hearing instrument, which can

be recharged by the user within 30 seconds. Widex, Sonion and DTI have

previously demonstrated the technology where micro fuel cell replaces batteries.

This time the partners joins forces to bring the technology all the way to the

market.

Today more than 95 percent of hearing instruments uses disposable zinc air

batteries, which have several drawbacks for both end-users and manufacturers of

hearing instruments. A general issue in the industry relates to the ever-increasing

demand for electrical energy, as the functionality of the hearing instruments

expands to encompass wireless connectivity, allowing, e.g., direct mobile phone

connection or access to other devices involving audio streaming. Elevated energy

demands result in increased exchange frequency of the employed disposable

batteries, which directly affects the end-user. The average hearing aid user is 70

years of age implying that the dexterity challenge of replacing the tiny batteries is a

general issue in this mature segment of users. In the segment of younger and more

active users, there is an increasing expectance towards rechargeable devices, which

for this generation is common practice in terms of electrical devices. In addition,

environmental impact of the disposable zinc air batteries is negative. The worldwide

installed base of around 55 million hearing instruments consumes an estimated 1.2

billion zinc air batteries per year