In June 2015, definitive agreement was signed by Ballard Power (NASDAQ: BLDP) t to acquire Protonex Technology Corporation a small firm developing and manufacturing intelligent power management and portable fuel cell products for military and commercial markets. This acqusition came two years after investment in the firm by In-Q-Tel - the federal investment entity. Protonex fuel cells are like small lightweight generators, but unlike an internal combustion engine, they are easy to carry, quiet, and dont produce noxious fumes. The companys power managers are fully automatic, universal converters/chargers that take whatever energy users have, and make the power they need. Organized around advanced power management products and portable fuel cell solutions, the firm engages primarily around applications requiring approximately one kilowatt of power providing advanced fuel cell power solutions for portable, remote, and mobile applications in the 100 to 1,000-watt range. The company offers propane fueled SOFC system for power needs in a range of recreation applications, such as recreation vehicle power, marine power, remote cabins, and portable power, as well as for commercial applications, including backup power, potable signage, renewable systems, emergency systems, remote power, first responders, surveillance/security, and truck idling. It also provides portable power solutions for a range of defense applications, such as field battery chargers, auxiliary power units for silent watch, unmanned aerial vehicles, low signature remote field power, laser designators, portable robots, night vision equipment, digital communication systems, and intelligence gathering sensors. In addition, the company develops a series of reformers and desulfurisers to process methanol, propane, gasoline, diesel, and other conventional fuels into hydrogen-rich streams that can be used by fuel cell systems to electrochemically generate power. Further, it assembles and sells prototype products. The firm was one of a handful of SBIR involved to have taken their firm public on the London Exchange. The original offering was effected in July 2006 and ended with the voluntary delisting in June 2010 to take the firm private.
