The yearly Edison Awards recognize new inventions and developments in a wide range of categories. Several EV-related products are finalists this year, including the Fisker Karma, the Ford Focus Electric, and Ecotality’s Blink Level 2 charger. Winners will be announced April 26.

KLD Energy Technologies has a new electric motor system that was named as one of the finalists in the Energy & Sustainability category. KLD’s system includes a motor, battery pack and controller, and is designed for use in a wide range of products, including motor scooters and motorcycles, elevators, escalators, forklifts and wind-generation equipment.

Rather than a traditional iron core, the KLD motor uses a composite material that allows operation at increased frequencies, producing higher power and torque. The battery system, under license from Electron Vault, accommodates different cell chemistries, and is configured to prevent cascading failure of individual cells, which offers longer battery life and lower costs.

“We’re gratified that the Edison Awards recognizes our system as an important technological leap,” said Christian Okonsky, founder and CEO of KLD. “What we’ve developed and are bringing to market is a more powerful and energy-efficient electric motor system that addresses global environmental challenges by making sustainable energy more economical.”

According to the DOE, 50 percent of the world’s energy is consumed by electric motor systems. A 10 percent improvement in motor efficiency could reduce global energy costs by $100 billion.

“For decades, people have been advocating for electric technology because of its potential for clean, efficient, high-performance propulsion,” Mr. Okonsky said. “That promise has been unfulfilled because the world has been saddled with what’s now 100-year-old electric-motor technology.”

www.KLDEnergy.com
www.edisonawards.com

Image: KDL