Oorja Fuel Cells
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Energy |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Dr. Sanjiv Malhotra |
| Headquarters | Fremont, California , United States |
Area served | Global (including China, South Africa, Mexico) |
Key people | Dr. Sanjiv Malhotra (Founder) |
| Products | Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), OorjaPac fuel cell series, OorjaRig™ methanol refueling station |
| Website | www |
Oorja Fuel Cells (Oorja Protonics Inc) is an energy enterprise headquartered in Fremont, California, dedicated to the development, production, and commercialization of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Their products serve various industries including logistics, automotive, distributed generation (micro-grid), and telecommunications. The company offers fuel cell solutions with power outputs ranging from 0.5 to 100 kilowatts.
History
Established in 2004 by Dr. Sanjiv Malhotra, Oorja Fuel Cells attracted investments from notable firms such as Sequoia Capital, Dag Ventures, Artis Capital Management, McKenna Ventures, and Mingxin China Growth Fund. The firm has partnered with companies like Toyota Tsusho, Baldor Specialty Foods, and US Foods to implement its fuel cell technologies in commercial settings.
One key collaboration with Toyota Tsusho focuses on promoting the use of affordable methanol fuel cells within Japan as a viable alternative to hydrogen batteries. This strategy leverages methanol's simpler logistics and handling to lower overall energy expenses.
In addition, Oorja has engaged in research partnerships with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory aimed at optimizing manufacturing techniques and boosting efficiency while minimizing costs.
Originally concentrating on the material handling and logistics sectors, Oorja has broadened its market reach globally to include telecommunications, mining, oil, and gas industries. The company operates sales offices in China and South Africa and has formed distribution alliances in South Africa and Mexico.
Products
The OorjaPac fuel cell series is Oorja Protonics' primary offering, serving as an onboard battery charger for material handling equipment. This system ensures continuous battery charge without requiring battery swaps or fast charging cycles.
The OorjaPac Model 1 provides a 5 kW power output and can extend the driving range of electric vehicles such as General Motors’ Chevy Volt or Nissan’s Leaf by two to three times. Meanwhile, the Model 3 delivers a smaller 1.5 kW output to accommodate varying power demands.
Designed specifically for telecom applications, the OorjaPac Model T is a liquid-fueled cell tailored to that sector’s needs. Supporting these products is the OorjaRig™, a methanol refueling station engineered for indoor commercial and industrial use.
Awards
- MIT Technology Review: Go-to-Market Product 2010
- Frost and Sullivan – Product of the Year 2009, 2010
- Always ON Going Green – Top 100 Green Company 2008 and 2009
- Modern Material Handling – Products of the Year 2009, 2010
See also
- Fuel cells
- Glossary of fuel cell terms
- Direct methanol fuel cell
- Energy development
- Grid energy storage