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Recognition both nation- and world-wide is becoming a bit of a normal thing for Christina Lampe-Önnerud.
The founder and CEO of Westborough-based Boston-Power Inc., Lampe-Önnerud saw the lithium ion battery maker named one of the Wall Street Journal’s top 10 cleantech companies in March. Then earlier this month, she received Northern Europe’s 2010 Sustainable Leadership Award from the Swedish Association of Environmental Managers.
The company, which has batteries in some Hewlett-Packard laptops and is working on several electric car projects, is getting attention from other sectors as well – namely the bankers who underwrite initial public offerings.
Recently Lampe-Önnerud spoke with Mass High Tech by phone about where her company is headed in the coming months and years.
Mass High Tech: What have been a few of Boston-Power‘s main accomplishments so far?
Lampe-Önnerud: We have really launched a new technology platform. The company initially launched into laptop and portable electronic space. We saw a very big unmet need in the market – a battery you can trust, a battery that holds promise for the entire life of your notebook. I now actually have a battery in my laptop that is three-and-a-half years old, and it works.
MHT: What can we look forward to in the near future?
Lampe-Önnerud: Later this year, there will be some other (computer products) coming with our product. We’re grateful for the opportunity. Next year there will be a pretty significant innovation coming into the market around our battery. We did launch a year-and-a-half ago into the transportation segment. We’re very protective of our customers, but one project that is open in public is the electric Saab project. The first few cars are hitting the streets this summer – the first 10 will be in Sweden. I hope I get my hands on one. Our second segment going into transportation will be supplying our batteries as a key component into electric scooters.
MHT: Do you expect this will be a better year for the cleantech industry?
Lampe-Önnerud: In tough economic times, people feel the old paradigm moving away. But a new one is coming. And it’s ripe for innovation, ripe for green technology – to do something good and participate in a way that generations before us would not have an opportunity to do. I see a lot of hope for the future.
MHT: We’ve heard that Boston-Power would be a good candidate to go public. Any plans for an IPO this year?
Lampe-Önnerud: I hear that too actually. I feel very honored that many of the top Wall Street banks and investment bankers from all over the world are connecting with us to check in when it’s a good time. We will absolutely have (an IPO) as an option. But we’re very sure it’s not this year for us.
MHT: What is the status of your prior plan to build a manufacturing facility in Auburn?
Lampe-Önnerud: It is on hold. We were not a candidate for the government stimulus money. And unfortunately it means it’s very difficult to start up opportunities like that.
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