Motorola announced today that Motorola Ventures, Motorola's equity investment arm, has made a strategic investment in Tekion, Inc., a North American developer of micro fuel cells for mobile products. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Tekion is driven by the mission to take mobile devices "off the grid". By integrating advanced battery technology with a unique micro fuel cell technology, Tekion is creating a new "personal power source," known as the Formira Power Pack, that will fit inside mobile products and enable consumers to stay connected for as long as needed.
Tekion's unique product technology provides a competitive advantage for portable electronic products in the power range of milliwatts to 50 watts and energy range of 10 to 100 watt-hours. Several products and markets fall within these power and energy levels including: industrial handheld computers, satellite communication devices, notebook PCs, and other mobile products.
"Our decision to invest in Tekion was motivated by its cutting-edge technology and experienced leadership in micro fuel cell development," said Warren Holtsberg, corporate vice president, equity investments and director of Motorola Ventures. "As mobile products have simultaneously miniaturized and increased in functionality, battery capacity has become a significant challenge.Tekion's non-flammable Formira fuel cell technology combined with an advanced battery technology, such as lithium ion, is a practical and efficient solution. Tekion's technology will help advance Motorola's vision of bringing seamless mobility to wireless users."
"With a common vision and focus on wireless devices, Motorola is the ideal strategic partner for Tekion," said Neil Huff, president and chief executive officer of Tekion. "Motorola's investment validates our business plan and further illustrates the need for improved power delivery solutions for mobile products. Our goal is to optimize Formira fuel cell technology for portable electronic devices and to provide end-users with greater flexibility and convenience."
