UltraCell(R) Completes All Phases of DoD Wearable Power Competition

UltraCell Corporation, a leading producer of reformed methanol fuel cells (RMFCs) for mobile power applications, today announced that its entry was one of only five entrants to complete the Wearable Power contest by the Department of Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E) after the final head-to-head competition, Saturday, October 4. During the weeklong competition, held at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif., the UltraCell Team utilized the company’s fuel cell technology which has been successfully field tested by the U.S. Army CERDEC and JRTC.

The 2008 Wearable Power Prize competition was designed by the DoD to address the need for and foster innovation around long-endurance, lightweight power systems for mobile warfighters. The DDR&E launched the competition in July 2007 in search of a wearable system that provides 20 watts (avg.) of electrical power for 96 hours, weighs less than 4 kilograms (8.8 pounds), attaches to a standard military vest and operates autonomously. By the November 2007 deadline, 169 teams had registered to compete, and by September 2008 there were just 48 teams remaining.

“After starting more than a year ago with 169 original entries, UltraCell making it to the final six teams is a great achievement,” said William Rees Jr., the deputy under secretary for defense for laboratories and basic sciences. “UltraCell and all the teams that competed have moved wearable power technology forward, and many of the components and systems tested during this demanding competition show great promise to reduce the weight of batteries our ground forces have to carry while performing their critical missions.”

“We were thrilled to have participated in this process, not only for what it means for our team and the XX25, but for the entrepreneurial community around next-gen power it fosters,” said Keith Scott, CEO. “UltraCell fuel cells have been out of the labs and in the field for a long time, but an accomplishment like this helps to confirm the stability of fuel cells for lightweight, portable power for the military and for commercial use, further promoting fuel cells as a viable energy alternative.”

UltraCell’s RMFC technology — fueled by methanol, a renewable, lightweight fuel — provides uninterrupted power for extended periods at a considerable weight advantage over existing battery solutions. The rugged design of the XX25 makes it suitable for the most demanding environments and its compatibility with military equipment makes it an ideal portable power solution for military applications.

About UltraCell

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(TM), achieved Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 status, a significant U.S. Army milestone and certification for military use and commercial production. For more information about UltraCell, please visit http://www.ultracellpower.com/.

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SOURCE: UltraCell