Fluidic Energy has received US$7m from IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, to build metal air batteries for cell phone base stations.
Fluidic’s zinc-air battery uses liquid salt for its electrolyte because water-based electrolytes can become damaged by high voltage in metal air batteries.
The batteries are already being tested in the field for cell phone and radio transmission towers to offer critical load support and remote backup power.
The company hopes its battery will reduce the costs of sustaining mobile networks in developing countries, thus allowing wider reaching mobile communication.
Fluidic Energy received US$8.13m from the US Department of Energy to develop its battery.