UltraCell power source aims to lighten soldiers' load
Over at the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco, UltraCell is demonstrating its XX25 micro methanol fuel cell system, a portable power source designed for the military that aims to significantly lower the total weight toted by soldiers. The Army has chosen the XX25, UltraCell says, because it boasts up to a 70 percent weight advantage over currently available military rechargeable batteries, based on a 72-hour mission at 20 watts.
UltraCell, based in Livermore, Calif., has designed the XX25 for evaluation to military testing specifications ranging from extreme operating temperatures to combat situation vibration and shock conditions. The system, for example, will be manufactured to operate in sub-zero and desert environments or survive hard drops while in transit. The hot-swappable cartridge is also geared toward reducing operational costs through the reduction of throwaway primary batteries and the logistical burden of recharging batteries.
Delivery of the UltraCell XX25 production samples for military evaluation at the Army's Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center, or CERDEC, is slated for the second quarter of 2006, and UltraCell also anticipates beta testing of a commercial version, the UC25, later this year.
Of interest to consumers here is the claim that the UC25 will be able to run a laptop in a typical duty cycle for up to two working days on a single methanol fuel cell cartridge.
Leslie Katz, senior editor of CNET's Crave, covers gadgets, games, and most other digital distractions. As a co-host of the CNET News Daily Podcast, she sometimes tries to channel Terry Gross. E-mail Leslie. 
