NEWS
March, 2011
Dow Kokam, Motiv Power Systems Partner for Fully Electric Shuttle Bus in San Francisco Region
Dow Kokam to Provide Advanced Battery Solutions for Class 4 Diesel-to-Electric Conversion,
Expected to Save 40,000 Gallons of Diesel Fuel Over Eight Year Lifetime
Indianapolis, IN – March 8, 2011 – Dow Kokam, a leading large-format battery system producer, announced today a new supply agreement with Motiv Power Systems, an electric drive power control system provider, to develop advanced lithium-ion battery systems to convert a Class 4, Ford E-450 diesel chassis to a completely electric system for a passenger shuttle bus. Funded in part by the California Energy Commission, the 20-passenger, fully electric shuttle bus will have a 100 mile range and will operate daily in the San Francisco region. Over eight years, the electric bus is expected to save 40,000 gallons of diesel fuel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 435 tons.
“Dow Kokam’s proven advanced battery technology provides the best thermal management available, which greatly enhances the lifetime of the battery system and makes electrification a true long-term investment for vehicle operators,” said Jim Castelaz, CEO of Motiv. “This project further demonstrates our ability to provide plug-and-play conversion capabilities to fleets, enabling the use of familiar vehicle frames and providing real solutions for fleet operators to achieve the full benefits of electrification.”
Dow Kokam is providing large-format cells, packs and technical experience to Motiv, who has developed a universal powertrain platform to convert medium-duty commercial vehicles. The shuttle bus will be operated by Bauer Transportation to provide daily service for the San Francisco region, including the Google and Facebook headquarters in the high-tech corridor of the Silicon Valley. The vehicle is projected to operate for at least 8 years, and will begin its deployment in August.
“Beyond the environmental benefits, electrification provides significant advantages to commercial vehicle and fleet operators in terms of cost, mission fulfillment, reliability and longevity. Owners and operators are looking for accessible solutions that can realize these advantages and maximize their investment,” said Chuck Reardon, vice president of Dow Kokam. “We are pleased that Motiv selected Dow Kokam’s proven cell technology to create a high-performance, fully electric conversion solution for the popular E-450 chassis. We think Motiv’s technology is opening up a new market of opportunities for a wide range of applications.”
Dow Kokam’s large format batteries bring the reliability of more than 10 years of proven performance in demanding applications with system integration capabilities that have been proven in more than 1 million kilometers of rigorous, on-the-road testing. Dow Kokam technology has been adopted as the primary source of energy for high performance equipment in industries ranging from transportation, marine, aerospace, defense and high-end industrial products.
Motiv’s system enables truck builders to easily integrate electric-drive powertrain options into the commercial vehicles they build today. The components are delivered to the builder ready to install, with no electrical design expertise required. With Motiv’s system, these electric-drive trucks provide clear benefits in operating costs, maintenance, configurability, and emissions reductions.
Dow Kokam brings technologically advanced and economically viable battery solutions to the transportation, defense, industrial and medical industries. Uniting Dow, Kokam America and Dassault SVE creates the first battery and energy management systems manufacturer to combine viable, scalable large-format battery technology with the market franchise, manufacturing expertise and market knowledge necessary to become the clear partner of choice across industries.
Dow Kokam was established in 2009 to develop and manufacture advanced energy storage technologies for the transportation and other industries. The company is owned by The Dow Chemical Company, TK Advanced Battery LLC and Groupe Industriel Marcel Dassault.
September, 2010
Motiv Manages Power, with Goal of Interoperability
Motiv Power Systems is lining up suppliers of a traction motor and lithium ion battery pack for a $2.7 million California Energy Commission project demonstrating versatile power management capabilities on a San Francisco-area shuttle bus.
The vehicle, a modified Ford E-450 cutaway to be operated by Bauer Worldwide Transportation, will be a battery electric. But the CEC-backed project, says Motiv CEO Jim Castelaz, will show the firm can handle hybrids: that Motiv can manage power from a range of sources, including batteries, ultracapacitors and onboard generators.
July 2010
For a Better Electric Truck, Mix & Match Battery Packs
Can a mix-and-match approach to battery packs help bring electric trucks and buses into the mainstream? Motiv Power Systems, a startup launched out of Stanford University and working with Khosla Ventures-backed battery maker Seeo, has just scored funding from the state of California to try and find out.
Motiv aims to break into the nascent market for electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles through the back door of the diesel truck market — providing “job shops” (which integrate diesel systems into vehicles in batches for fleet customers) with a mix-and-match library of batteries and motors to choose from, and the electrical and communication system to tie it all together.
$1.3M CEC Grant
SACRAMENTO - The California Energy Commission approved 11 awards that leverage almost $20 million in state funding with $9.3 million in federal stimulus money and $39 million in private funds. These projects will demonstrate the possibilities for cutting-edge natural gas-powered, hybrid, and electric trucks and buses to reduce petroleum use, cut pollution and provide jobs.
The Energy Commission will provide $1,345,552 for Motiv Power System to incorporate its electric-drive system in a class 4 shuttle bus, giving it a 100-mile all-electric range. Over eight years, the electric shuttle bus is expected to save 40,000 gallons of diesel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 435 tons. The project will directly provide support for 19 high-tech positions with many more possible as the technology develops.
June 2010
Motiv named as 2010 Cleantech Open semifinalist.
Motiv Power Systems was recently named a semifinalist in the Cleantech Open 2010 business plan competition for the California region, with awards of $1 million total.
Motiv provides revolutionary power management systems for electric commercial vehicles. Our technology allows truck and bus manufacturers to build electric vehicles easily and affordably, which will lead to the faster adoption of clean technology in this market. We are thrilled to be honored as a semifinalist. It is fantastic to see that the external business community is as excited about Motiv’s business as we are.
About the Cleantech Open
The Cleantech Open is the world's largest cleantech business competition. Its mission is to find, fund and foster entrepreneurs with big ideas that address today's most urgent energy, environmental and economic challenges. The program provides the infrastructure, expertise and strategic relationships to turn clever ideas into successful global cleantech companies. Since 2006, through its one-of-a-kind annual business competition and mentorship program, the Cleantech Open has enabled hundreds of clean technology startups to bring their breakthrough ideas to fruition, helped alumni contestants raise over $260M, and created an estimated 1,200 green collar jobs. Fueled by a network of more than 600 volunteers and sponsors, the Cleantech Open unites the public and private sectors in a shared vision for making America's cleantech sector a thriving economic engine. For more information, visit www.cleantechopen.com, and follow @cleantechopen on Twitter.