UltraCell Corporation, a leading producer of portable fuel cells, reports that the U.S. Air Force has awarded the company $3 million in federal stimulus funds as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The funds will be applied towards the "50W Soldier Portable Fuel Cell System" program, created to support the design and development of reliable, efficient portable fuel cells for dismounted warfighters deployed in Afghanistan and other arenas across the globe.
The program seeks to provide durable and field-tested portable fuel cell systems with improved usability and ease-of-use with both new and existing military applications and electronic devices. Additionally, the solution aims to deliver increased energy density while meeting military standards and offering manufacturing efficiency.
Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base , awarded UltraCell the contract. Implementation and evaluation of the program will be overseen by the AFRL's Propulsion Directorate, a principal provider of propulsion technologies which also conducts leading edge research and development in aerospace fuels, propellants and power generating systems. In 2007, UltraCell opened a 20,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Dayton, which has since grown to more than 30,000 square feet.
UltraCell will utilize the funds announced to build 65 fuel cell systems based on its XX55 Reformed Methanol Fuel Cell (RMFC). The XX55 has been demonstrated in military exercises in support of current operations.
Designed to power electronic equipment such as military radios and rugged laptops, the XX55 is also capable of recharging military batteries such as the BB-2590 and Li-80/145 -- a key to the success of portable fuel cell systems in the field. These capabilities, coupled with the XX55's fuel cell/battery hybridization, allowing the system to provide greater peak power for startup of devices like rugged laptops, make the XX55 an ideal portable power supply for the 50W program.
In addition to expanding development of the portable fuel cell systems, UltraCell will also utilize the stimulus funds to design an accessories kit to extend capabilities outside the program's minimum requirements, such as expanded battery recharging technology.
"Advanced portable fuel cell technology will play a key role in the future of the U.S. dismounted warfighter," said USAF Lieutenant Mark Roosz, Program Manager of the effort at the AFRL.
"By awarding UltraCell with these funds, the U.S. Air Force and the AFRL have demonstrated confidence in the proven success of our XX55 product, and in our ability to continue to develop and manufacture innovative portable power solutions," said UltraCell CEO Keith Scott. "We are very pleased to be named the recipient of these funds which will enable us to deliver a 50W solution to the Air Force, and to expand and enhance our fuel cell manufacturing capabilities."
Earlier this month, UltraCell reported that it has been selected to provide portable power for electronic devices and recharge military batteries during the Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE), taking place at the Maneuver Battle Lab (MBL) in Fort Benning, Ga., beginning in early 2010.
The AEWE, in coordination with the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and the Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC), will conduct experiments over a seven-week period through live force-on-force and constructive, virtual-land simulations to provide a credible and repeatable venue for network-enabled experimentation. The program, which began in 2004, focuses on emerging technologies and supports the Army’s effort to shorten material development and examine future force requirements and constructs through a linked campaign of experimentation.
UltraCell’s XX25 fuel cell systems will power military equipment including PRC-119F ASIP radios, rugged notebook computers and Long Range Thermal Video (LRTV) systems. Additionally, the XX25s will be used to recharge BB-2590 and Li-80/145 military batteries. The XX25 is capable of delivering 72 hours of continuous runtime using a single fuel tank, making it an extremely mobile and lightweight source of power.
“We continue to demonstrate that our fuel cell systems deliver the most efficient, lightweight and portable power solutions for military applications and off-grid environments,” said UltraCell CEO Keith Scott. “UltraCell’s participation at AEWE further underscores that commitment and is another example of the XX25’s field readiness and validation.”
UltraCell is a leading producer of fuel cell systems for mobile devices. With an exclusive license with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories for micro fuel cell technology, the company has developed new technologies and intellectual property in the field of methanol-based fuel cells. Its patented, award-winning portable fuel cell, the XX25™, achieved Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 status, a significant U.S. Army milestone and certification for military use and commercial production.
