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Frequently Asked Questions

 


 

Who is MTI Micro?
MTI Micro is a majority-owned subsidiary of MTI. MTI Micro’s minority shareholders include DuPont, Gillette, private investors and various founding employees. MTI Micro is committed to the development and commercialization of Mobion® direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) technology for use in portable electronics devices in the military and consumer markets.

 

Where is MTI Micro Located?
MTI Micro’s main office is located in Albany, NY:
431 New Karner Rd.
Albany, NY 12205
PH: (518) 533-2200
OR TOLL FREE: (800) 828-8210
FAX: (518) 533-2201

 

What is Mobion®?
Mobion® is MTI Micro's trademarked name for the company's proprietary direct methanol fuel cell technology-based cord-free rechargeable power pack. MTI Micro's Mobion® cord free rechargeable technology is based on the culmination of work reflected in more than 92 patents (either granted or in application) that have collectively "cracked the code" on bringing DMFC power to hand held electronics.

The company has made a number of truly breakthrough discoveries which are intended to lead to a reliable, manufacturable and affordable DMFC power pack design that will have significant benefits over the status quo lithium-ion battery packs and competing micro fuel cell designs. These breakthroughs and patents result in a number of critical advantages, making Mobion® technology a milestone in portable fuel cell technology.

MTI Micro's Mobion® cord-free rechargeable power pack technology is being designed to increase run time (time until a recharge is needed) two to ten times over the status quo of lithium-ion batteries using the same amount of space and less weight. Mobion® eliminates the need to plug in to a power source for a recharge as well as providing an instant recharge. For the first time wireless and other electronic hand held devices will be "truly wireless", capable of going anywhere, anytime with no need to plug in or wait for a recharge

 

How do I Contact MTI Micro?
You may call or write to the above address or click here to write us an e-mail.

 

What are some of the applications where direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) can be used?
We believe that MTI Micro’s direct methanol fuel cell technology could be used as an energy source in a number of handheld consumer electronic applications such as PDAs, cell phones, digital cameras, and portable CD players. We also see opportunities for low power applications in the military market.

 

What is the potential size of the market for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC)?
The market for rechargeable batteries or power packs is large, well-established and growing. The consumer market is estimated to be about $15 billion by 2010 (source: Frost & Sullivan) and spans a broad range of mass market, portable electronic devices used by consumers around the world. While it would be attractive to site the entire market for battery power packs, factors likes fuel cell adoption, market timing, consumer and OEM acceptance, product performance variability, reliability and consistency, and target market penetration rates, will vary. Accordingly, we believe that initial market entry points and market sizing predictions for the next five to ten years will be substantially less than the full market for battery power packs currently existing.

 

What is MTI Micro’s technology differentiation?
MTI Micro's Mobion® technology and architecture is being developed with a design-for-manufacturability approach. The simple, complete system has the potential to reduce the parts count and provide high energy content in the smallest total package by utilizing 100% ("neat") methanol. The neat methanol is fed directly into the anode side of the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) thereby eliminating the need to carry unnecessary water or to have micro-pumps within the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) system.

 

What advantages does the Mobion® technology offer?
When commercialized, MTI Micro's Mobion® technology could offer more energy to run a device for longer in a smaller overall package. Another advantage over current technologies, mainly lithium ion batteries, could be instant recharge from replacing small methanol cartridges, thus eliminating long recharge periods.

 

How many employees does MTI Micro have?
MTI Micro has approximately 50 employees working on the development and commercialization of direct methanol micro fuel cells.

 

What is MTI Micro’s relationship with Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd?
In October 2007, MTI Micro announced a continuing collaboration with Samsung Electronics. MTI Micro will prepare Mobion® MFC products for mobile phone applications leading to commercialization in 2009. MTI Micro will also share development updates with Samsung and loan them prototypes for evaluation. Samsung may also request changes to product specifications until December of 2008 and may purchase commercial DMFC samples as soon as they are available.

 

What is MTI Micro’s relationship with Duracell?
In September 2003, MTI Micro entered into a strategic alliance agreement with Gillette and its Duracell division. The agreement provides for a multi-year exclusive partnership for the design, development and commercialization of a low power direct methanol micro fuel cell power system and a compatible fuel refill system. As part of the strategic alliance, both MTI Micro and Gillette will share and license from each other certain intellectual property assets, and both have the ability to earn royalties. In addition, Gillette has made an initial $1 million investment in MTI Micro common stock, with the potential of an additional investment of $4 million subject to agreed milestones.

 

What will Duracell and MTI Micro be responsible for under the agreement signed in September?
Under the agreement, MTI Micro is responsible for the commercialization of the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) system, and Duracell is responsible for the commercialization of the fuel cartridge refill system. Both companies share the responsibility to develop their respective systems to assure interoperability as products for the high volume consumer markets.

 

Will micro fuel cells replace batteries?
The demand is growing for all types of portable power - with different devices requiring different types of power sources, so we see a need for both battery technologies and micro fuel cells.

 

What is MTI Micro’s relationship with Dupont?
MTI micro signed an agreement with Dupont in August of 2001, to accelerate the development and commercialization of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) for wireless electronic devices.

 

Can methanol be transported on a commercial aircraft?
For domestic air shipments, maximum allowable package sizes are 1 liter net per package to be transported within the baggage compartment of a passenger aircraft, and 60 liters net per package for cargo aircraft, each "packed in strong outer packaging". These exemptions are waived and methanol can be carried in the passenger compartment of a commercial aircraft, if the methanol is in an aqueous solution of no greater concentration than 24%.

In December 2004, The United Nations (UN) Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods voted to establish model regulations for shipping methanol fuel cartridges for micro fuel cell devices as cargo. The new UN shipping name, number and packaging instructions will assist international air transport authorities in considering regulations to allow passengers to carry and use these cartridges on-board airplanes.

Codes and standards for methanol are critical for introducing Mobion® into the consumer market. There have been a series of regulatory approvals for methanol that lay the foundation for consumer methanol-based products like Mobion®. Most recently, in September 2007, the US Department of Transportation issued a proposed rulemaking to allow passengers to carry methanol micro fuel cells and cartridges in the passenger cabins of airplanes.  The UK, Canada, Japan and China already have policies in place and similar regulations are being adopted by other countries around the world.  MTI Micro anticipates the proposed rulemaking will go into effect around the beginning of 2008.

 

What does “fuel-based energy density” mean?
This is the amount of energy we can extract for each cc of fuel and is an important number for two reasons. First, since we can change the size of the fuel cartridge in our system, thereby changing the system energy density, the fuel-based energy density is an important design parameter for engineers. Second, it indicates the volume of fuel needed in the cartridge and thus the size of the replacement cartridge.

 

Does MTI Micro’s system run on 100% methanol? What does that mean?
In repeated laboratory tests, our Mobion® technology platform operates on 100% methanol and our prototypes to date run on 100% methanol - Operating on high concentration of methanol means that the time a device is powered without having to recharge or re-fuel can be extended and the size and weight of the fuel cell itself, may ultimately be decreased.

 

Is it true that without a revolutionary membrane that practically stops methanol cross-over (while maintaining current output achieved with PFSA membranes), fuel utilization will be unacceptably low?
No. We have demonstrated methanol fuel utilization of 90% with commercially available membranes using other cell features to correct for deficiency.

 

Cross-over issue can ONLY be addressed, at least in principle, with controlled dosing of methanol into a re-circulated anode feed requiring a micro-fluidics subsystem which adds significant complexity and parasitic power loss. Is that true?
No. MTI Micro's Mobion® technology allows direct feed of 100% methanol with a passive system.

 

How many patents does MTI Micro have?
As of December 2007, MTI Micro has filed more than 92 patents (including applications) with more coming all the time.

 

How much will a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) or a cartridge cost when commercial micro fuel cells are available?
We are at an early stage in the development process where price and cost information are confidential to the company for competitive reasons and extremely difficult to predict with any certainty.

 

A Note About Forward Looking Statements and Other Legal Matters