CSU spins off new battery company

CSU spins off new battery company
By Staff


December 15, 2009 --
FORT COLLINS - The newest spinoff company from Colorado State University aims to manufacture more powerful, longer-lasting batteries.

Prieto Battery is the first startup co-founded by Cenergy, the commercialization arm of CSU's clean energy supercluster. The company is based on technology developed by Amy Prieto, an assistant chemistry professor in CSU's College of Natural Sciences, who will serve as chief scientific officer of the new company.

Prieto Battery plans to produce lithium ion batteries based on nanostructured materials that could prove to be 1,000 times more powerful and last 10 times longer than traditional batteries. The batteries have potential applications in the military, automotive and health-care industries.

"The automobile and clean energy sectors are hamstrung by expensive, slow-charging batteries that exhibit low power densities," said Prieto in a prepared statement. "Resolving these issues will create explosive growth and resolve major obstacles to these markets."

A prototype of the battery is slated for demonstration by early next year, according to a CSU press release. The company already landed a first round of funding from Bohemian Asset Management in Fort Collins, a privately held division of the Bohemian Cos.

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