Army AL&T, July-September 2008
Abstract
I am always pleased by the significant number of success stories within the acquisition, logistics, and technology (AL&T) community. We have a vast number of programs that range from developing transformational technologies for our warfighters to destroying stockpiled chemical weapons for the safety of the American public. I would like to share with you some of our recent successes. Our Soldiers at war need efficient, reliable, mobile power sources that are available anywhere and anytime for mission success. The Army, in partnership with its Army Venture Capital Initiative (AVCI), OnPoint, has produced the world's first compact militarized methanol fuel cell, which can produce 25 watts average energy for 12 hours or enough to run a laptop for that same period of time. The device, a product of UltraCell Corp., has been successfully tested by Soldiers in controlled exercises at Fort Polk, LA, and Fort Dix, NJ. The Army's Communications-Electronics Research, Development, and Engineering Center (CERDEC) discovered UltraCell as a result of a Broad Agency Announcement and contracted with the company to develop the technology for $4 million. At the same time, AVCI invested in UltraCell and, as a result, leveraged an additional $25 million investment of private sector venture capital funds from a variety of sources. This unique partnership significantly reduced the time and costs of device development, as well as produced a viable company with a manufacturing capability.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA491165