DONA ANA TRAINING RANGE, N.M. -- Johnathan Brown drives a Humvee--full of test equipment powered by a newly developed fuel cell--through the worst terrain he can find on Fort Hood's rangeland.

Brown is making sure the methanol-powered fuel cell can withstand the rigors of military life. A generator mechanic for most of his Army career, he sees the value of a significantly lighter, relatively maintenance-free power source to replace the noisy, hot generators and heavy, toxic batteries now used by the Army.

At Fort Bliss, the fuel cells are used with solar panels on adobe structures in the northernmost part of the Dona Ana Range, where soldiers learn urban combat skills.

They are silent and have a minimal heat signature, which provides little to no interference with training activities, said Henry C. Merhoff, with the U.S. Army Operational Test Command at Fort Hood. Merhoff was in New Mexico on Wednesday for a media demonstration.

The fuel cells generate electrical current from chemical reactions and emit only water and carbon dioxide. The cells power cameras and microphones that allow trainers to watch remotely as soldiers learn to clear populated structures of enemy fighters.

The 65-watt commercial fuel cells are made by Smart Fuel Cell, a Germany-based company, said the company's U.S. representative, James Stephens.

With the help of the solar panels, the fuel cells need new cartridges only about once every three months, Merhoff said.

Next year, newly developed 250-watt fuel cells developed by the Army and Smart Fuel Cell are to be provided to the Fort Bliss Army Evaluation Task Force that evaluates cutting-edge Future Combat Systems equipment, and in range targets that require power to simulate heat signatures of enemy vehicles and formations, Merhoff said.

Although the fuel cells are now used only to support training and evaluation activities, Merhoff expects that they will have combat applications.

Smart Fuel Cell already is working on a smaller, 25-watt version that could be used by individual soldiers.