There is a move underfoot. While the attention grabbing names such as Gore and Kyoto make the headlines, it’s the grass roots players that are actually making the move to a “greener” way of conducting ourselves. As each passing day brings us news of higher fuel costs and more damaging carbon emissions, a handful of companies have already been developing and employing the tools to help us do things faster, cleaner, cheaper, and with less environmental impact.
Etec is one of those companies. Etec is a wholly owned division of Ecotality, a renewable energy company that acquires and commercially advances clean electric technologies and applications. So, what does Etec bring us? In a nutshell, quite a bit. Blending electric vehicle technology with Hydrogen fuel technology, Etec is forging real “world changing” systems that are already in use around the globe. Have you ever seen the material handling carts that come for your luggage at the airport? More times than not they are electric vehicles. Have you seen the extendable mobile ramps? Likewise, these are generally battery powered devices.
Etec helps design, develop, test and even instruct operators in the use of such devices. From proper battery selection and design, to charging techniques, to system engineering solutions, Etec is visible in such daily operations at notable names such as Jet Blue, Southwest Air, US airways, Air Canada and a dozen other leading transportation companies. But even though electric vehicles and battery charging technology is quite a handful, this is simply a portion of their overall structure.
Etec is also actively involved in the hydrogen fuel products and designs business. From their U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE), contract entitled “Alternative Hydrogen Production Pathway and Hydrogen Utilization,” Etec has been awarded $1.247 million for its application entitled “Investigation of Hydrogen-Fueled Internal Combustion Engine Durability.” This goes hand in hand with their Chevrolet Silverado ‘HICE” or Hydrogen internal combustion engine, that they have developed to study the enormous possibilities that exist in a fully hydrogen powered vehicle. In recent tests, acceleration, range, and overall performance, coupled with extremely low noxious emissions, proved once again that a properly designed and implemented hydrogen vehicle was indeed not only possible, but desirable.
If Etech was only about efficient electric carts and airport mobile ramps that could easily be considered “enough”. If you add in the advances in their rapid battery recharging systems, that should be the “cherry on top”. But add in the engineering, the advanced battery design and testing, the hydrogen projects, the hydrogen storage solutions, the testing facilities, and soon it becomes very clear why Ecotality wanted to bring Etec under their wing by acquiring them. Etec brings a world of alternative fuel synergies to the table, and Ecotality was wise to have the vision to see the opportunities for the future. We suggest that investors look at Ecotality in the same light, looking now, for the opportunity for the future.
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