Web-based System Solution for Industrial and Passenger Electric
Vehicle Battery Optimization
MONROVIA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 10, 2009--
AeroVironment,
Inc. (AV) (NASDAQ: AVAV) has been granted a patent by the United
States Patent and Trademark Office for technology that facilitates the
optimal charging, management, control and maintenance of battery packs,
chargers and electric vehicles (EVs). Patent No. 7,444,192 builds on
AV’s intellectual property portfolio in its Efficient Energy Systems
business segment. This segment’s products include PosiCharge™
systems, the leading fast charge systems for electric vehicles.
AV’s technology is directly applicable to battery packs, chargers and
battery-powered EVs that can be linked to the electric utility network
and managed by a “smart grid” controller. The technology is designed to
gather data from the EV or the charger, and uses the data to determine
whether the rate of charge is optimized for the vehicle’s performance,
the battery’s long-term health, and the utility’s power availability. A
device employing this technology could create and store a performance
profile for the EV and charger. Based on this historical profile, the
device could optimize the rate of charge or transmit an alert to the
utility or end user.
The technology was developed for AV’s PosiNET™ system, a Web-based
motive power management solution which has been deployed in support of
commercial EV fleets in the United States. PosiNET™ minimizes fleet
downtime and optimizes vehicle utilization by providing real-time,
predictive and historic reports as well as actionable alerts and
equipment usage recommendations to fleet managers.
“We launched this technology in the commercial EV market, but there are
also compelling potential applications for passenger electric vehicles,”
said Michael Bissonette, AV senior vice president and general manager of
its Efficient Energy Systems segment. “For instance, utilities could
employ PosiNET to capture and analyze energy usage data from EV battery
packs that connect to the electric grid. With these data, the utility –
or a third party – could remotely optimize the charge rate or energy
load based on real-time vehicle needs and grid capabilities, resulting
in a win-win for the utility and end users.”
For passenger EV charging, the system would enable vehicle and grid
optimization through grid-tied electric charging systems communicating
with utilities via the internet. The system could send alerts and other
actionable data to utilities which could then remotely control charge
rates using the PosiNET system. The comprehensive information gathered
by the system could also be used by the utilities for reporting and
analysis. These same capabilities could also be applied by utilities to
help enable real-time grid balancing on a local level.
The technology behind AV’s electric vehicle charging solutions emerged
after AV's substantial contributions to the development of the GM
Impact, the concept car for General Motors’ EV1, the first modern
electric car. AV created a solution combining high-current charging
algorithms with intelligent thermal management to safely increase the
useful range of electric battery packs. Today, AV’s electric vehicle
charging solutions significantly reduce the amount of time required to
safely charge electric vehicle battery packs while maximizing their
range, performance and lifespan.
About AeroVironment, Inc. (AV)
Building on a history of technological innovation, AV designs, develops,
produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of Unmanned Aircraft
Systems (UAS) and efficient electric energy systems. Agencies of the
U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the
company’s hand-launched
UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units
through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target
acquisition. Commercial and government entities use AV’s clean
transportation solutions such as electric
vehicle test systems and electric
vehicle fast charge systems, as well as its clean energy solutions.
More information about AV is available at www.avinc.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking
statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. These statements are made on the basis of current
expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and
uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive,
governmental and technological factors outside of our control, that may
cause our business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from
those expressed or implied. Factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are
not limited to, our ability to perform under existing contracts and
obtain additional contracts; changes in the regulatory environment; the
activities of competitors; failure of the markets in which we operate to
grow; failure to expand into new markets; failure to develop new
products or integrate new technology with current products; and general
economic and business conditions in the United States and elsewhere in
the world. For a further list and description of such risks and
uncertainties, see the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
PosiCharge™ and PosiNET™ are trademarks of AeroVironment, Inc.
Additional AV News: http://www.avav.com/resources/news/
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Source: AeroVironment, Inc.
AeroVironment, Inc.
Steven Gitlin
+1 (626) 357-9983
pr@avinc.com
or
For
AeroVironment, Inc.
Mark Boyer
+1 (310) 229-5956
mark@boyersyn.com
