Ultralife, MSU to develop fuel cell tech

NEWARK, N.Y., Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Ultralife and Mississippi State University have been contracted by the U.S. Defense Department to develop fuel cell battery technologies.

The joint partnership between New York-based high-energy power solutions and communications accessories developer Ultralife and MSU is an effort to develop fuel cell battery portable power systems for lightweight, long-endurance military missions.

MSU is the prime contractor under the $1.6 million contract from the U.S. Defense Department. MSU awarded Ultralife $475,000 to become a technology partner in the project.

"Portable fuel cells offer the promise to power battery chargers for soldiers that can effectively extend mission times and reduce a soldier's carrying weight by allowing use of smaller batteries that are both lighter and last longer," John Kavazanjian, Ultralife president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

"This program demonstrates our commitment to explore new technologies that can broaden our addressable market without straining our already growing workforce in Newark (New York). We look forward to pursuing additional research opportunities with MSU and to benefiting from future initiatives by the State of Mississippi to support research and development activities."

The technology partnership with MSU also resulted in an Ultralife announcement of a 14,000-square-foot facility in West Point, Miss., for the new technologies under development.

"Ultralife is a major player in the power solutions industry and a welcome addition to Mississippi's growing technology-driven economy," Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said. "I am confident that Ultralife has found a solid home in West Point with the technology capabilities, skilled workforce and cooperative spirit our people have to offer growing industries."