DANBURY, Conn., 9 Dec. 2005. Electro Energy Inc. today announced the receipt of a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract with the U.S. Navy.
EEI will develop manufacturing techniques for a power source exploring the use of unconventional methods for electrode fabrication that may substantially reduce the cost of thermally activated batteries and significantly improve performance.
Thermally activated batteries are currently used in missile and weapons applications and historically have had labor and capital-intensive manufacturing processes.
In the second quarter of 2006, EEI expects to apply its innovative manufacturing processing techniques, developed for rechargeable bipolar nickel metal hydride and bipolar lithium ion batteries, to invent a simpler, consistent technique for producing thermally activated battery components at a lower cost than currently offered in the marketplace.
EEI's ongoing development of thermal battery technology at its Colorado Springs, Colo. manufacturing facility has already demonstrated operation at a significantly lower temperature than batteries that are in use today and continues to patent its processes. The reduction in temperature provides the potential for a viable solution for down-hole well drilling applications, as well as a superior alternative for existing military applications.
"The conversion from antiquated processes used to produce thermal batteries to creative and up-to-date processes employed in the manufacture of bipolar wafer cell batteries will bring into being a much more competitive thermal battery," said Martin G. Klein, Electro Energy's chairman and CEO.
Electro Energy Inc., headquartered in Danbury, Conn., was founded in 1992 to develop, manufacture and commercialize high-powered, rechargeable bipolar nickel-metal hydride batteries for use in a wide range of applications. Its Colorado Springs operation supplies aerospace-grade high quality nickel cadmium batteries and components for satellites, aircraft and other specialty applications.
Electro Energy Inc. is developing high power lithium rechargeable batteries utilizing the company's proprietary design. In May, EEI announced plans to acquire significant manufacturing assets near Gainesville, Fla., by the end of 2005 to accelerate commercialization of its battery technology. For more information, see www.electroenergyinc.com.
