Potent dreams hanging on Ilion Technology's prototype

By ELLEN READ

It may be only a prototype, but Auckland entrepreneur Robin Johannink hopes his newly unveiled power supply device will be the vehicle to fulfil his multimillion-dollar dreams.

Mr Johannink is managing director of Ilion Technology, the Boston-based parent of his Auckland company Pacific Lithium.

Last October, he was talking up prospects for the company's battery system.

"By next January we will have created more millionaires than any other company," he said.

A Nasdaq listing was planned for Ilion in January, principally to raise $293 million for the development of lithium batteries to power electric and hybrid cars.

The fall in technology stocks scuppered the listing scheme, but Ilion perseveres.

The launch of its prototype high pulse power device (HPPD) marks the next stage in the company's 75 per cent owned joint venture with Boston-based Powercell.

The new product guarantees an even flow of electric power to users.

HPPDs are charged from the power supply and are intended to cover brief interruptions.

When the power is interrupted, they instantly supply power at an even rate, thereby avoiding any disruption or fluctuation in supply.

Pacific Lithium's technology is contained in the device's electrodes.

Ilion will supply 250 HPPD units in the final quarter of this year and plans to sell more than 3000 next year.