VAN BUREN TWP., Mich., Jan. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Visitors to the North
American International Auto Show were today given the opportunity to see
the XH-150(TM), the first vehicle to feature AFS Trinity Power
Corporation's Extreme Hybrid(TM) technology. The advanced demonstrator
vehicle unveiled today is one of two developed by AFS Trinity and built by
Ricardo under contract that were ready for testing in just five months.
Plug-in hybrids offer the prospect of dramatically extending the all-
electric vehicle (EV) mode of hybrid vehicles through the use of high
capacity energy storage systems which can be recharged using grid
electricity (typically overnight using discounted off-peak power). AFS
Trinity Power's patent-pending Extreme Hybrid(TM) technology employs a
proprietary dual energy storage system that combines Lithium-Ion batteries
and ultra capacitors with proprietary XH(TM) power and control electronics
with the aim of satisfying performance expectations of consumers and
providing extended vehicle range in a highly energy-efficient and
cost-effective package.
In mid July 2007, AFS Trinity Power asked Ricardo to help integrate the
Extreme Hybrid(TM) system into two identical XH-150(TM) demonstrators using
two 2007 Saturn Vue Greenline SUVs as host vehicles. Ricardo
responsibilities included integrating AFS Trinity's proprietary power and
control electronics module into the vehicles, incorporating off the shelf
ultracapacitors and batteries selected by AFS Trinity, design and
development of a completely new Ricardo transmission for the vehicles,
modifying the host vehicles' suspension and chassis control and, finally,
vehicle build.
The results of road tests carried out by AFS Trinity in December 2007
at Michelin's Laurens Proving Grounds in South Carolina are highly
impressive. In simulated urban/highway conditions the XH-150(TM) achieved
an all-electric range of 41.9 miles and a top speed of 87 MPH. In
acceleration tests the company reports an all-electric zero to 60 MPH time
of 11.6 seconds. The most interesting 0-60 acceleration time, however, was
that for the XH-150(TM) in full hybrid mode, which was a stunning 6.9
seconds.
Further background information on the XH-150(TM) is provided in AFS
Trinity's press release, also issued today.
Ricardo CEO, Dave Shemmans said: "The need to improve vehicle fuel
economy is of paramount importance to automakers, governments and consumers
in all parts of the world. Plug-in hybrids offer an attractive solution in
the urban environment and are likely to play a significant role in the
future. We are proud to have been asked by AFS Trinity to assist in
producing the first demonstrator based on AFS Trinity's Extreme Hybrid(TM)
technology and to have delivered the vehicle ready for testing in only five
months. The latest in a long line of hybrid programs delivered successfully
for our clients, this project further demonstrates Ricardo's position as a
leader in this field and underscores the company's impressive vehicle
integration capabilities."
Looking to the future, AFS Trinity CEO Ed Furia said, "Our primary goal
now that we have succeeded in developing, demonstrating and testing the XH-
150(TM) is to license our XH(TM) system to automakers around the world who
would like to have this exciting fuel-efficient drive train in their
vehicles, and who better to help integrate the Extreme Hybrid(TM)
technology into the vehicles of the world's automakers than Ricardo."
With technical centers and offices throughout Europe, the U.S. and
Asia, Ricardo is a leading independent technology provider and deep-content
strategic management consultant to the world's transportation sector
industries. The company's engineering expertise ranges from vehicle systems
integration, controls, electronics and software development, to the latest
driveline and transmission systems and gasoline, diesel, hybrid and fuel
cell powertrain technologies. Its customers include the world's major
automakers, tier 1 suppliers and leading motorsport teams. The headquarters
of Ricardo's U.S. operations, Ricardo, Inc., is located at Van Buren
Township, Michigan. The company's skill base represents the
state-of-the-art in low emissions and fuel-efficient powertrain technology,
and can be best summarized: "Ricardo is Fuel Economy." Ricardo plc posted
sales of $344 million in financial year 2007 and is a constituent of the
FTSE techMark 100 index - a group of innovative technology companies listed
on the London Stock Exchange. For more information visit http://www.ricardo.com.
AFS Trinity Power is a privately-owned Delaware corporation
headquartered in Bellevue, WA, that is developing Fast Energy Storage(TM)
energy storage and power systems for vehicular, spacecraft and stationary
power systems that utilize batteries, ultracapacitors, and/or flywheels.
The Company has conducted development programs with private and government
organizations including DARPA, NASA, the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, U.S. DOT,
California Energy Commission, Oak Ridge National Laboratories, Lawrence
Livermore National Labs, Lockheed, Ricardo, Mercedes and Honeywell.
Although AFS Trinity is not currently using flywheels in systems that are
designed for consumer cars, it is actively engaged in developing flywheel
power systems for Formula One Racing (F1) and is currently also engaged in
developing such a system for one of the world's top F1 teams. American
Flywheel Systems, Inc (AFS) received the first patent ever given for a
flywheel battery in 1992 and merged with Trinity Flywheel Power to create
AFS Trinity Power in 2000.
AFS Trinity and Ricardo, Inc. have a Technology Partnership Agreement
by which Ricardo is assisting AFS Trinity as a preferred customer and is
installing into passenger vehicles AFS Trinity's Extreme Hybrid(TM) drive
train technology, technology which is the subject of ongoing AFS Trinity
U.S. and international patent filings. For more information, see
http://www.afstrinity.com.
SOURCE Ricardo, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.ricardo.com
http://www.afstrinity.com
CONTACT:
Anthony Smith, Ricardo Media Office, +44 1273
382710, media@ricardo.com; or Joe Kirik, The Quell Group,
+1-248-649-8900, jkirik@quell.com
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