SatCon Wins Army Subsystem Vehicle Contract

SatCon Technology Corporation (Nasdaq NM: SATC) has been awarded a contract from BAE Systems to develop a Starter Generator for the Future Combat System (FCS) Multifunction Utility/Logistics Equipment (MULE) unmanned ground vehicle. The MULE vehicle is one of the major systems in the FCS program and includes three variants of the 2.5-ton vehicle that provide transport, countermine, and light assault support for the Future Force war fighter. SatCon’s President and COO, Millard Firebaugh, stated, “SatCon is pleased to be participating in the Army’s FCS transformation program. This contract supports our stated strategic initiative to focus on hybrid vehicle technology and applications. The FCS program is the major military ground vehicle program, and enables SatCon to develop vehicle power technology for the military that we can then leverage for commercial and consumer applications.” The award expands on SatCon’s portfolio of vehicle power technology with the development of an integrated starter/generator (ISG) based on advanced and proprietary SatCon permanent magnet machinery design concepts. This technology has direct applicability to both military and civilian hybrid electric vehicle applications and represents a major step forward in “under the hood” power density. SatCon’s Applied Technology division will design, fabricate, test, and deliver three Starter Generator […]

Read More

Itron Signs Contract with Southwest Gas

Itron (NASDAQ:ITRI) has signed a contract with Southwest Gas Corporation (NYSE:SWX) to automate more than 1 million natural gas meters with Itron automated meter reading (AMR) technology, in the three metropolitan areas of Phoenix, Las Vegas and Tucson over the next three years. Under the terms of the contract, Itron will provide the AMR modules for gas meters, mobile data collection technology, application software and related implementation and project management services. Itron will also serve as the prime contractor for installation of meter modules in the three metropolitan areas. By the time the project is complete in 2009, Southwest Gas, whose customer base grew by more than 80,000 customers in 2005, will have automated more than 1.7 million gas meters in three states (Arizona, Nevada and California) using Itron AMR technology. Itron’s AMR technology enables utilities to collect data from electric, natural gas and water meters automatically via radio signal. As a result, utilities are able to read meters efficiently and accurately, while eliminating the need for meter readers to access the customers’ properties every month. To date, Itron has shipped more than 46 million automated meters and modules to utilities worldwide. “Up to this point we’ve been deploying Itron’s […]

Read More

ECD Ovonics Grants Patent License to Zhejiang Kan

Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD Ovonics) subsidiary, Ovonic Battery Company, Inc., has entered into a patent license agreement in connection with its proprietary nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery technology with Zhejiang Kan Battery Co., Ltd. (Zhejiang Kan) of the People’s Republic of China. Under the consumer battery license grant, Zhejiang Kan has a royalty-bearing, nonexclusive right to make, use and sell NiMH batteries for consumer, nonpropulsion applications. “We are pleased to announce the addition of Zhejiang Kan as an Ovonic licensee,” said Stanford R. Ovshinsky, ECD Ovonics President and Chief Scientist and Technologist and CEO of Ovonic Battery. “Our strategy of licensing our consumer NiMH battery technology in the People’s Republic of China reflects the rapid growth of the Chinese battery market. Zhejiang Kan’s decision to become an authorized supplier of NiMH batteries results from our strong patent position and Zhejiang Kan’s desire for access to advanced Ovonic technology.” Website: [sorry this link is no longer available]     

Read More