In Iraq, the average American infantryman carries around 10 kg of batteries - the equivalent of a third of the mass of his pack.
He needs it for his radio, his GPS system, his night vision goggles, but also for nuclear, bacteriological and chemical alarm systems (NBBC).
In 2003, the Defense Tech magazine noted the dependence of forces vis-à-vis disposable batteries whose reliability and longevity were questionable. The US Defense Department allocates considerable sums in research on fuel cells.