MTI Micro, NeoSolar to work on portable fuel cells

Albany, N.Y.-based MTI MicroFuel Cells announced today that it signed an agreement with Seoul, South Korea's NeoSolar to co-develop fuel cell powered portable digital devices for the consumer market.

MTI Micro, a subsidiary of Mechanical Technology (Nasdaq: MKTY), said it would work with NeoSolar to develop, test, and evaluate fuel cell prototypes for their integration with a number of NeoSolar products, including ultra mobile portable computers, or UMPCs.

"NeoSolar's UMPCs are well suited for a new power source that can take them to the next step in their product evolution," said Peng Lim, chairman and CEO of MTI Micro.

"Today's announcement is also an important step for MTI Micro toward our goal of becoming a leading provider of portable power for handheld electronic devices."

NeoSolar, which also makes solar photovoltaic cells, is marketing its UMPCs under the brand "Wibrain."

James Yu, president of NeoSolar, said, "This co-development agreement with MTI Micro will give us the opportunity to provide fuel cell technology with incredible benefits that may allow us to bring a new class of digital products to consumers."

MTI Micro said its deal with NeoSolar could lead to the development of external fuel cell power sources like chargers and snap-on attachments, as well as embedded fuel cells.