Imara Corporation Introduces Advanced Lithium-Ion Battery Technology for High-Power Applications

Imara Corporation, a research, design and manufacturing company that has developed next generation lithium-ion battery technology, today officially launched and announced its plan to deliver U.S.-based energy storage solutions. Imara’s patented and proprietary battery technology breaks through current barriers of performance and energy capability, enabling new applications in power tools, outdoor power equipment, specialty applications, hybrid vehicles and grid storage.

Formerly known as Lion Cells, Imara employs unique materials science technology to develop high-power, high-energy, extended cycle-life cells and packs that are environmentally-friendly.

The initial core technology, exclusively licensed from the Stanford Research Institute (SRI), was developed and funded in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the Partnership for the Next Generation Vehicle (PNGV) initiative. Imara’s technology has been demonstrated across multiple lithium-ion chemistries. It is being scaled to high-volume production and will be shipping by the 4th quarter of 2009.

“Imara’s advanced lithium-ion batteries will meet the future demands of hybrid electric vehicles for exceptional cycle-life, higher charge and discharge rates and higher energy density,” said Imara Corp. CEO Jeff Depew. “Our batteries will also have a positive impact on our environment, enabling a reduction in smog and CO2 emissions emitted by everything from 2- and 4-stroke lawn and garden engines to today’s fuel-wasting SUVs.”

“In the next five years, transportation and utility markets will see higher rates of growth for energy storage technologies like lithium-ion and other large format batteries,” said Ying Wu, senior analyst at Lux Research.*

Imara is currently developing next-generation batteries and packs for power tools, where there is an ongoing need for higher power-to-weight energy storage solutions. Imara’s lithium-ion batteries “cut the cord” by providing the best combination of run-time and cycle-life, improving power tools’ performance rankings while delivering lower lifetime battery costs for heavy-duty applications such as cutting, grinding and sanding.