SAFCell, teaming with UltraCell, LLC will produce a 50 watt, man-portable propane system for Army field trials by early 2017.
Pasadena, CA - SAFCell and UltraCell have commenced the design and fabrication of a 50 watt, propane-fueled power unit based on the use of SAFCell’s proprietary Solid Acid Fuel Cell stacks in UltraCell’s world-leading military portable power systems. This first-of- its-kind ultra-light power unit will reduce by half the total battery weight burden on the modern soldier, up to 44 pounds for a three-day mission, enabling them to carry more mission critical equipment and ammunition.
Under the SBIR Phase II Enhancement grant, SAFCell and UltraCell will focus on reducing the weight and volume of the current lab prototype unit by approximately half. The unit will then be packaged and tested under realistic conditions at UltraCell before being sent to Army for final field trials. Delivery of field trial units will culminate three years of development between SAFCell and UltraCell to combine their two technologies into the most fuel-flexible, rugged and portable fuel cell system on the planet.
Commenting on the Enhancement award, SAFCell’s CEO and President Dr. Calum Chisholm said:
This award enables us to demonstrate the advantage of using our fuel-flexible Solid Acid Fuel Cell technology in UltraCell’s ultra-rugged, portable power system design. The portability, fuel-efficiency, and silence of the final unit will make it ideal not only for military use, but for commercial applications as well.
UltraCell designs and manufactures portable power systems for military and civilian applications using proton exchange membrane fuel cell technologies. UltraCell’s system design has been developed to meet demanding military specifications.
SAFCell is working with the U.S. Army, oil and gas companies, and power system manufacturers to commercialize Solid Acid Fuel Cell systems. These quiet, clean systems operate on existing commercially available fuels, including industrial methanol, ethanol, propane, diesel and natural gas. Power sources using SAFCell products are more fuel-efficient, virtually silent, and require significantly less maintenance than existing combustion technologies.