This contract award also includes three option phases which, if awarded, could increase the total value of this contract to $6.4m and could include delivery of over 100 production units.
Under the terms of this five-month, phase one program, Protonex will develop the next-generation of its existing M250-CX platform by increasing its power output, integrating additional battery management and charging capabilities, reducing overall size and weight, and further ruggedizing the system for field use.
At the conclusion of the phase one program, Protonex is expected to deliver multiple portable battery charger/APU systems to the US Army for further testing and field use.
The company claims that development of a next-generation system based on the existing 250-watt platform will provide the military with fuel efficient power systems that can be used as portable field battery chargers or auxiliary power units (APUs). In addition, use of the M250-CX could enable new mission scenarios and allow a switch to rechargeable batteries in the field, thereby reducing overall weight.
Scott Pearson, CEO of Protonex, said: “With this significant award, our development work on the M250 platform of products has been supported to date by a total of $9.6 million in contracts from the U.S. Army and the U.S. Department of Defense. This contract represents continuing support from our military customers and validates the need for alternative power solutions for U.S. soldiers in the field where batteries and generators fail to provide acceptable performance.
“In addition, the potential follow-on funding contemplated by the three program options could pave the way to low volume procurement of the M250-CX systems within the US Army and other military and government agencies.”
