Ford Transit-based Proof of Concept EV to be Demonstrated at NAIAS AutoMobili-D
DETROIT, Jan. 5, 2017 — Inventev and New Eagle have agreed to mutually pursue the conversion and sale of all-electric-drive full-size commercial vans. Inventev will serve as the up fitter and distributor, while New Eagle will provide the core propulsion system and controls. The New Eagle-powered proof of concept van will be demonstrated with Inventev in AutoMobili-D during the press and industry preview days of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) from Jan 9-12.
The companies anticipate technology development to occur in Southeast Michigan between Ann Arbor and Detroit. Inventev was a 2016 recipient of a $500,000 Department of Energy ARPA-E Agency grant, and was paired with a Michigan $50,000 MATch Energy Grant to support proof of concept of its proprietary plug-in hybrid medium duty truck technology. New Eagle is a sub-recipient of the grant and key supplier to the ongoing effort for key components, control systems and physical vehicle integration.
Separate from the grant, the two companies see synergy for near-term development of an EV commercial van and a faster-to-market opportunity. If several enablers fall into place, production and sale is targeted to begin during the 2018 model year. Inventev will provide a focus on commercial fleet customer requirements, supply chain and manufacturing, while New Eagle performs core drive system design and development. While still in early stages of development, the two companies see potential job creation and retention in Michigan, numbering over one hundred, as a direct result of the project.
“The environment to support commercial truck electrification has been changing rapidly at the federal, state and municipal levels,” said Dave Stenson, founder & CEO of Inventev. “We feel this near-term product offering will address specialty fleet customer needs and be complementary to Inventev’s core technology ‘The Energy SWAT Truck’ that will develop in parallel.”
A specific van model has not been finalized for production, but several OEMs offer products that are well-suited for the up-fit. Order process, logistics and up-fit accommodation are factors in the decision.
“Our approach to EV and hybrid technology development is quite modular and adaptable to various vehicle models,” said Rich Swortzel, president of New Eagle. “We first integrated the EV van proof of concept system on a Ford Transit which is a strong candidate for the next stage of development.”
Both companies see supporting trends in the industry and marketplace toward electrification. This includes battery development, environmental policy and declared intent by public and private fleets to operate with lower emissions and less dependency on higher-cost carbon-based fuels such as gasoline, diesel, natural gas and propane.
“The numbers are starting to add up to real scale for an up-fit approach to address the all-electric demand in very specific applications,” concluded Stenson.
About Inventev LLC:
Inventev is a Detroit-based startup with patented technology to create medium duty commercial truck electrification solutions. The leadership team is rooted in decades of automotive product strategy, development and engineering and has won a $500,000 U.S. Department of Energy ARPA-E grant and related $50,000 Michigan MATch Energy grant among other awards. The company seeks to establish a Detroit Advanced Vehicle Integration Center (DAVIC) in the city. The systems Inventev develops are targeted for up-fit to truck chassis from the major automotive OEMs to satisfy specific needs of commercial fleet customers with features and lower total cost of ownership. (http://inventev.com)
About New Eagle:
Based in Ann Arbor, New Eagle works alongside its customers to help them take their ideas from concept, to prototype, to production. Using the MotoHawk® and Raptor® model-based development tools, New Eagle creates custom embedded software that’s integrated onto proven hardware. This allows customers to take their product to market quickly. The mechatronic applications we develop— autonomous, vehicle control, alternative fuel engine control, hydraulics, and electric and hybrid systems—are used in a variety of industries such as on-highway vehicles, work trucks,construction,mining, rail, marine, material handling, power generation, and military. (http://neweagle.net)
