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Information is given about the present state of development of fuel cells in the U.S.A., Europe and Great Britain, obtained largely from published papers. This includes systems working at low and medium temperatures with both alkaline and acidic electrolytes. Commonest fuels are hydrogen, either used directly or produced by the reformation of mixtures of alcohol, or hydrocarbons with steam and hydrazine. Oxygen is generally used as oxidant, though tests are also being carried out with air. Electrodes are made from sintered metal or from carbon; catalysts are generally noble metals, platinum or palladium, for the fuel electrode with silver for the oxygen electrode.