Metallic Power's New Zinc/Air Fuel Cell Makes Clean Power Practical
19 May 1999
Metallic Power's New Zinc/Air Fuel Cell Makes Clean Power Practical; New Electric Power Source Creating Solutions for Industry
SAN DIEGO--May 18, 1999--Metallic Power is introducing zinc/air fuel cells as the solution for quiet, reliable zero-emission electric power that totally recycles its fuel and charges in five minutes.Companies like Textron, Toro, and ABB, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of non-road small industrial utility vehicles, turf maintenance equipment, and back-up power sources for telecommunications equipment, are partnering with Metallic Power to make clean power practical.
"Many businesses are discovering our zinc/air fuel cell system can solve critical problems and impact the bottom line," said Dr. Jeff Colborn, chief executive officer of Metallic Power and early developer of the system. "It's a completely closed-loop system, with nothing to add, nothing to discard and nothing wasted," said Colborn. "The fuel cell has three times the energy efficiency of a gasoline engine, and it reuses its zinc over and over."
The system consists of zinc/air fuel cells and a zinc regeneration/recycling "vending" machine. The fuel cell is like a battery but is refueled with zinc pellets rather than electrically recharged. The zinc pellets (1mm diameter) are combined with oxygen from the air inside the cell, forming zinc oxide (a safe white powder used in skin creams and sun block) and releasing electricity.
Versus lead/acid battery powered equipment, Metallic Power's zinc/air fuel cell system can reduce operating costs dramatically: Fewer batteries are needed, fewer vehicles are needed (none on "stand-by"), less vehicle downtime, better productivity, less maintenance. Zinc, one of the Earth's most common elements, gives the system four to seven times more energy per pound than traditional lead-acid batteries and is recycled in the regenerator using electricity from the wall. Metallic Power's fuel cells require no cool-down time and can remain maintenance free for up to ten years even in extreme weather conditions. Overall cost of ownership is comparable to or lower than gasoline-powered equipment.
Achievable specific energy output currently is at 160 watt hours/kilogram with a potential of 220 Wh/kg, compared to lead/acid at 35 Wh/kg and lithium-ion at 100 - 120 Wh/kg. Energy density is 200 watt hours/liter, much better than lead/acid's 75 Wh/liter. Recharge time for a lead/acid battery is eight hours compared to zinc/air's five minutes. Long term potential includes fuel cells for electric cars that will enable the driver to get a "fill-up" in five minutes and drive 78 miles per hour for 300 miles on one tank of zinc/air.
The practicality of zinc/air technology for off-road fleet utility vehicles has become apparent to Textron Turf Care and Specialty Products. Textron has partnered with Metallic Power. "Zinc/air gives us the opportunity to meet the ever changing customer needs for improved product performance," said Peter Whurr, vice president product management for Textron. "Metallic Power's system will allow our equipment to be more fuel efficient between battery charges. Zinc/air will provide a power source in our vehicles that delivers the performance our customers will expect tomorrow."
According to Dana Lonn, director of advanced turf technology at Toro, zinc/air technology opens a new door in battery technology. "Toro looks for innovative ways to help resolve current customer needs as well as future emissions challenges. Lead/acid batteries haven't changed much in 30 years, and we just haven't been able to carry enough energy with us. The Metallic Power zinc/air fuel system can help us get more energy per pound, and it gives the advantage of short refueling time as well."
Metallic Power, whose management includes a leading world expert in zinc/air technology and PhDs in a variety of relevant fields, is currently in its second round of funding. Metallic Power has patents pending or in preparation for new air cathodes, electrolyte management, sealed replaceable refueling cartridges, regeneration equipment design and zinc fueling technology.
Metallic Power Inc., founded in 1995 and based in Carlsbad, Calif., near San Diego, is the leader in developing rapidly refuelable electric power sources that reuse zinc -- the new economical clean fuel for electric vehicles and power systems.
