Recharge Wrap-up: Atlanta Falcons electrify with ChargePoint, LiquidPiston unveils X Mini engine
The Hybrid Shop has announced a multimillion investment from a Northern Virginia investment firm. Funds managed by the multibillion dollar firm now own 38 percent of The Hybrid Shop, a network of dealers providing maintenance services for hybrids and EVs. “The fact that a multibillion dollar investment firm would want to invest in an early stage company serves as affirmation of our brand, business model, and future potential,” says The Hybrid Shop CEO Dave Crawford, “as well as recognition of our success to-date in our ongoing efforts to achieve a position of innovation and fast-growth in the rapidly-evolving hybrid and electric space.” Read more in the press release below.
LiquidPiston has unveiled a prototype of the power dense X Mini gasoline engine. The 70cc rotary engine is quite small and simple; with just two moving parts, it fits in a box as small as 6.6 inches by 6.2 inches by 5.4 inches. In testing, the X Mini produces 3.5 horsepower at 10,000 rpm, but LiquidPiston expects the final product to weigh just three pounds and produce more than five horsepower at up to 15,000 rpm. The X Mini could be used to power lawn equipment, UAVs, mopeds, EV range extenders and the like, as well as new applications not yet discovered. LiquidPiston also says its low NVH will help with comfort and product life. Read more in the press release below.
A new study says using EVs for energy storage could help during grid disturbances. Researchers showed that EVs can be signaled to respond appropriately to disturbances by discharging a certain amount into the grid rapidly when power is low, and storing energy quickly when there is a spike in surplus. This reduces grid fluctuations and allows the grid to resume stable operation more quickly after a destabilizing event. Too many EVs connected to the grid in this way, though, can cause an overreaction to events, which lessens the benefits of the vehicle-to-grid system. Read more at Phys.org.
Nation’s largest EV charging network is a proud partner of the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta, Ga.– ChargePoint, the largest electric vehicle (EV) network in the world, has partnered with the Atlanta Falcons for the 2014 season. As part of the partnership, ChargePoint provided ten Falcons-branded charging stations to the team to install at various locations, adding to over 200 ChargePoint ports already installed in the Atlanta area.
Atlanta is one of the fastest growing markets for EVs the nation. The Falcons organization represents this developing market with a number of employees and players driving EVs to and from work, practice and games.
“Many of our fans, employees and players are proud EV owners. As an organization we are dedicated to promoting environmentally-conscious practices at our facilities and in the community,” said Greg Beadles, Falcons’ executive vice president. “ChargePoint’s stations will allow us to continue our focus on sustainable business practices and will hopefully introduce a new audience to the benefits of driving an EV vehicle.”
The new stations are located at the team’s Flowery Branch training facility, the Arthur Blank Family Offices, the College Football Hall of Fame, The Georgia Dome and the Georgia World Congress Center. These stations will be used by players, employees and fans alike. To increase accessibility for EV drivers, ChargePoint has also donated stations to the City of Atlanta which will install the stations throughout the city for residents and visitors.
“Charging infrastructure is critical to meeting the increasing demand for electric vehicles from our residents and visitors here in the city of Atlanta. The addition of the new ChargePoint stations will not only give existing EV drivers additional options for charging, but will also help to assure potential buyers that charging points outside of the home and workplace will be accessible,” said Denise Quarles, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. “We are excited to add the additional ChargePoint stations to our inventory and look forward to seeing the addition of more across the city,” Quarles added.
“We are excited to partner with the Atlanta Falcons in their efforts to support environmentally-conscious practices,” said Dimitrios Papadogonas, VP of Marketing with ChargePoint. “EV sales are gaining at a rapid clip, especially in the Atlanta area, and it’s great that the Falcons are supporting the growing demand in the region. I’m sure fans and players will be happy to see these new stations.”
EV sales have increased immensely in the state of Georgia. The number of EVs in Fulton County alone doubled in just six months, from 3,063 at the end of 2013 to 6,027 by June 2014. Today, there are over 14,200 plug-in EVs on Georgia roads. As the number of EVs grows throughout the state, additional charging stations are critical to building increased EV buyer confidence.
Georgia can partially attribute EV market growth to the existing tax credits the state offers for zero emission vehicle (ZEV) purchases, which amounts to 20% of the vehicle cost or $5,000 – whichever is the lesser amount. More information on Georgia’s ZEV tax credits can be found at: http://www.georgiaair.org/airpermit/html/mobilearea/engines/Alternativefuels.htm
To celebrate the newly installed charging stations and the team’s commitment to sustainability, ChargePoint and the Falcons are co-hosting an official activation event at the Georgia Dome prior to their game against Pittsburgh on December 14, 2014. Details to follow.
About ChargePoint
ChargePoint is the largest and most open electric vehicle (EV) charging network in the world, with more than 19,000 charging locations and a 70%+ market share. Ranked #1 by leading independent research firm, Navigant Research, ChargePoint makes advanced hardware and best-in-class cloud based software. ChargePoint’s open network is utilized by many leading EV hardware makers and encourages all EV charging manufacturers to join.
ChargePoint’s real-time network information including the availability of charging locations throughout the nation is available through the ChargePoint mobile app, online and via the navigation systems in top-selling EVs including the new BMW i3 and the Nissan LEAF. Every 7 seconds, a driver connects to a ChargePoint station and by initiating over 6.8 million charging sessions, ChargePoint drivers have saved over 6.2 million gallons of gasoline and driven 144 million gas free miles.
For more information about ChargePoint, visit www.chargepoint.com.
Multi-Billion Dollar Investment Firm’s Investment in The Hybrid Shop (THS), Affirms Brand’s Potential for Market Domination
The international network of dealers delivering a full suite of diagnostics and maintenance services exclusively for hybrid and electric vehicles (HEVs) receives investment of 38% equity interest to continue its growth footprint, recognition as leader of ‘all things hybrid’
GAINESVILLE, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Hybrid Shop (THS), a growing international network of dealers committed to providing expert care for hybrid and electric vehicles (HEVs), announced today that it has successfully closed on a growth investment by a Northern Virginia investment firm that manages approximately $4 billion in assets. Funds managed by the firm now own 38% of THS. THS was advised by Woodville Hall Capital, LLC, and Miles & Stockbridge, in this transaction.
THS, a global leader in hybrid and electric vehicle training, education and battery conditioning, has continued to expand its global network of expert dealer partners, as well as its relationships with industry leaders. In recent months, THS has also solidified key components of its business model as part of its future road-map to success, including:
– Driving customers, revenues, and profit by offering additional revenue streams and customer leads, THS signed 25 new dealer partners in the past year and generating more than $5 million in leads;
– Projections to add 10 more dealer partners to the THS network before the end of 2014; and
– Exponential market growth and expansion, including a focus on international markets, including Asia.
This investment news underscores the extent to which THS has continued to succeed in its goals to achieve leadership across the hybrid and electric vehicle space, and serves as recognition by a multi-billion dollar firm in the potential the THS brand has already established as it continues its upward trajectory. THS plans to utilize this investment to support their ongoing organizational growth, bolster the operational resources and support available to their current network, and continue to build-out their national high quality network of ‘all things hybrid’ service centers.
“We are proud to announce this investment in THS by a leading, multi-billion dollar firm,” THS’ CEO, Dave Crawford said. “The fact that a multi-billion dollar investment firm would want to invest in an early stage company serves as affirmation of our brand, business model, and future potential as well as recognition of our success to-date in our ongoing efforts to achieve a position of innovation and fast-growth in the rapidly-evolving hybrid and electric space.”
About The Hybrid Shop (THS)
Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Gainesville, VA, The Hybrid Shop (THS) is a growing international network of high quality dealers that are committed to providing expert care for hybrid and electric vehicles by embracing the latest battery pack conditioning, hybrid technology and knowledge that is only available to licensed dealers. For additional information about THS, please visit www.thehybridshop.com. Also, follow THS on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
LiquidPiston Unveils Power-Dense, 70 Cubic Centimeter, Gasoline Powered “X Mini” Engine Prototype
The near-zero vibration, quiet, four-stroke engine could significantly improve a variety of applications, ranging from lawn & garden equipment to small generators to mopeds & UAVs.
BLOOMFIELD, Conn., Nov. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — LiquidPiston, Inc., a leader in advanced combustion engine technology, today unveiled the X Mini, a power-dense, low-vibration, quiet, 70 cubic centimeter gasoline powered rotary four-stroke engine prototype. The compact engine has only two primary moving parts, a 4-pound core, and fits in a 6.6″ x 6.2″ x 5.4″ box. In prototype testing, the spark-ignited X Mini engine has shown high power density, producing 3.5 horsepower (indicated at 10,000 RPM). When mature, the engine is expected to weigh 3 pounds, produce over 5 horsepower at up to 15,000 RPM, and be over 30 percent smaller and lighter than comparable four-stroke piston engines.
The X Mini will enable many small engine applications to be smaller, lighter, and quieter, including handheld power equipment, lawn and garden equipment, portable generators, mopeds, unmanned aerial vehicles, robotics, range extenders for electric vehicles, and auxiliary power units for boats, aviation and other vehicles. The engine’s improved noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) characteristics will also increase product performance, enhance operator comfort and prolong application life.
Dr. Alexander Shkolnik, President and Co-Founder of LiquidPiston, said: “We are currently in discussions with interested industry partners looking to enhance their existing product lines. The X Mini is an incredible breakthrough, and we expect to further optimize the engine for increased power (greater than 5 horsepower) and efficiency, and even lower operational noise.”
SM Shahed, a LiquidPiston advisor, past President of SAE International, and former VP, Advanced Technology at Honeywell, added: “The high power density and smooth vibration signature of the X Mini together with its simplicity (fewer parts) make it an ideal candidate for its intended markets. Further developments are likely to greatly expand its range of applications.”
In addition to improving existing engine applications, the X Mini may enable entirely new applications not possible with current engine technology. In early 2015, LiquidPiston will host an open call for ideas regarding these new applications. The company will award a cash prize for the most innovative submission. Click here for more information.
The X Mini is based on LiquidPiston’s patented thermodynamic cycle and engine architecture and has demonstrated the ability to run steady state with air-cooling. In the past, the company has demonstrated compact, low-vibration, high-efficiency 70 horsepower and 40 horsepower compression ignition diesel engines. The gasoline-powered X Mini is proof that LiquidPiston’s innovative engine technology can scale down in size and can be configured for spark-ignited operation to support both gasoline and diesel applications.
LiquidPiston will present the X Mini at the SAE International/JSAE 2014 Small Engine Technology Conference on November 19 in Pisa, Italy. The paper “Development of a Small Rotary SI/CI Combustion Engine” is available here. Click here to download photos of the X Mini.
About LiquidPiston
LiquidPiston, Inc. develops compact, quiet, high-efficiency, low-vibration, multi-fuel capable combustion engines that are scalable from 1 horsepower to over 1000 horsepower. The company’s patented High Efficiency Hybrid Cycle (HEHC), an improved thermodynamic cycle, and engine architecture enable LiquidPiston to create engines optimized for fuel efficiency. LiquidPiston’s engines have only two primary moving parts – a shaft and rotor, resulting in compact size and low-vibration operation. Although they are rotary engines, LiquidPiston’s engines are not Wankel engines; they are uniquely configured to adopt the company’s patented thermodynamic cycle and its associated efficiency and low-noise benefits. To learn more, visit www.liquidpiston.com.
