Transportation

Vehicles

Achates Power
California, US.
Founded 2004
Employees: N/A
Product description: Clean diesel engines

Achates Power is developing engine technology that offers what it calls “an unparalleled combination of fuel efficiency and power density at lower cost”. The company is testing its 4.2L engine which, it says, rivals engines nearly twice its size. It aims to build an engine that is lightweight, more fuelefficient and with lower costs. The project is inspired by Hugo Junkers’ Jumo, the most famous engine in diesel aviation history. Achates has been granted six US patents with over 200 claims that define the patents.

Adura Systems
California, US.
Founded 2005
Employees: 22
Product description: Powerplant technology

Adura is the pioneer of powerplant technology that can enable heavy transit vehicles to achieve up to 100 miles of initial travel in pure electric mode with subsequent travel in hybrid mode. The company’s patent-pending Mesa (modular electric scalable architecture) powerplant can be applied to certain types of hybrid vehicles, all electric and fuel-cell vehicles, including mass transit buses, and large utility and delivery vehicles. At the heart of the Mesa powerplant are highly modular electronic systems and an innovative, intelligent software control platform. The firm is in discussions with various top companies which, like itself, believe conventional electric hybrid solutions are too expensive and would provide marginal benefits.

Better Place
California, US.
Founded 2007
Employees: 200
Product description: Electric vehicles
infrastructure

Better Place is working with several governments around the world to launch the necessary infrastructures that would enable electric cars to take off en masse. Israel became the first pioneer last year, potentially paving the way for widespread adoption of electric vehicles. Drivers have access to a network of charge spots and battery-switching stations, and over half of Israelis would now consider buying an electric car, according to the company’s research. Denmark, Australia, California, Hawaii and Ontario are following suit. The company is also in discussions with car makers.

Fallbrook Technologies
California, US.
Founded 1998
Employees: N/A
Product description: Transmission technology

From its bases in Texas and California, Fallbrook is a major name in bicycle technology, particularly on issues of transmission (relating to gear changes). It serves bicycles, light electric vehicles, automobiles, all-terrain vehicles, low-speed vehicles, agricultural equipment and wind-energy industries. It is particularly well-known for its NuVinci CVP (continuously variable planetary) transmission technology which is being used in a range of applications from lawn mowers and robotics to wind power and snowmobiles. Overall, Fallbrook has a portfolio of more than 300 patents and patent applications. It also provides engineering services.

Fisker Automotive
California, US.
Founded 2007
Employees: N/A
Product description: Green car manufacture

Former Aston Martin lead designer Henrik Fisker is behind this new company which designs and makes “premium green automobiles”. His Fisker Karma will be one of the first production plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) when it goes on sale in the US and Europe in summer 2010. A fully-charged Karma burns no fuel for the first 50 miles. Once past the 50-mile electric range, the gasoline engine turns on a generator to charge the lithiumion battery and the car operates as a normal hybrid vehicle. A two-door hardtop convertible is expected in 2011. The Irvine-based company is planning a wide variety of environmentally-friendly vehicles.

Tesla
San Carlos, California, US.
Founded 2003
Employees: 400
Product description: Electric sportscar

The Tesla Roadster proves that electric cars have a future beyond short shopping trips or commuting. Weight is the enemy of efficiency in all cars, and especially those powered by electric but, thanks to its lightweight sportscar body, and the latest lithium-ion batteries, the Tesla Roadster accelerates to 60mph in 3.9 seconds, generates a third of the CO2 of hybrid cars, and has an impressive range of 240 miles at a cost of £3. The next challenge: a seven-seater saloon model launching in 2011.