UltraCell to mature 150-watt fuel cell system prototype

LIVERMORE, Calif., 11 Jan. 2011. UltraCell Corp., developer and provider of advanced Reformed Methanol Micro Fuel Cell (RMFC) technology, won a $999,000 contract from the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development, and Engineering Center (CERDEC) to advance a fuel cell system for the Coalition Warfare Program (CWP). Under the contract, UltraCell engineers will leverage a 150-watt (150W) fuel cell system prototype, originally developed for the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MOD) Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL). The prototype was produced under the UK's Reducing the Burden on the Dismounted Soldier (RBDS) Capability Vision Program. UltraCell will mature the fuel cell system to a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 7. "We are pleased to be part of a program that coordinates soldier power requirements among NATO partners," says Keith Scott, chief executive officer, UltraCell Corp. "This contract marks the continuation of our landmark work with the UK MOD over the past year on the innovative, 150W fuel cell system prototype." UltraCell's efforts will center on the advanced development of an interoperable, fuel cell power source capable of delivering 150 watts, suitable for a variety of military applications. The system will use RMFC technology to convert methanol fuel into electricity, charge batteries, and power even the most energy-hungry electronics devices. The RMFC solution offers a 50 percent weight savings for long missions and reduced environmental impact when compared to traditional batteries.