Dr. Andy Frank is the inventor of the modern PHEV. He's been working
on hybrids and PHEVs since 1971 (see http://www.team-fate.net
http://www.calcars.org/history.html and Sherry Boschert's book,
Plug-In Hybrids: The Cars that Will Recharge America at
http://www.calcars.org/books.html . He's a Key Advisor to CalCars.org

While remaining a Professor of Mechanical and Aeronautical
Engineering at the University of California at Davis, he has founded
and serves as Chief Technology Officer of a company, Efficient
Drivetrains Inc. http://efficientdrivetrains.com/ . EDI has just
secured the rights to license the dozens of hybrid- and PHEV-related
patents Frank has obtained over these decades. The way we see it,
because he's been at it so long, Andy has encountered and developed
solutions to problems that others who haven't gotten started don't
even know exist!

Of course carmakers can develop PHEVs on their own -- we've often
heard that they already have prototypes in their workshops and labs.
We expect that some carmakers willing to go beyond
"not-invented-here" assumptions will benefit from at least reviewing
EDI's intellectual property -- which includes a mechanical
continuously variable transmission (CVT) that's more efficient than
electronic CVTs, and could be used in non-hybrid vehicles as well.


The announcement by the UC Davis licensing office is at
http://www-pubcomm.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=8432
You can comment at Green Car Congress's report
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007/11/uc-davis-licens.html
Below is EDI's announcement:


UC Davis licenses PHEV technologies to startup: EDI

UC Davis just announced a patent licensing deal for its PHEV
technologies with Silicon Valley startup - Efficient Drivetrains Inc
(EDI). Several generations of award winning PHEVs have been
developed at the University under the leadership of Professor Andy
Frank, resulting in a broad patent portfolio that includes vehicle
architectures, control and efficiency algorithms, and advanced
continuously variable transmission (CVT) designs.

With this deal, EDI has the rights to commercialize and embed the
PHEV technologies covered by the University's patent portfolio. EDI
is also free to develop its own proprietary technologies as part of
its research and development efforts and new projects.

Co-founded by CTO and Professor Frank, EDI is focused on offering its
PHEV technologies to multiple vehicle designers and manufacturers in
all geographies. The company has already signed its first customer
deal and expects to close at least two others by the end of the
year. EDI is also pursuing international opportunities through
strategic partnerships and joint ventures.

"Plug-in hybrid technology offers a solution to the problem of
shifting from transportation powered by oil to vehicles powered by
electricity. The plug-in hybrid displaces more oil than any other
technique, without a change in infrastructure," Frank said.

"EDI was established to proliferate Frank's technology. The company
plans to partner with auto designers and manufacturers so that they
can rapidly introduce advanced plug-in hybrid technology into their
vehicles. The company also plans to establish its own automotive
research and development center in Davis," said Joerg Ferchau, the
company's chief executive officer.

CalCars Felix Kramer added, "I'm gratified to see the partnership
between Davis and EDI because it makes the work that Professor Frank
has done over the years to advance the technological development and
vision for PHEVs available to the industry as a whole."

Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, EDI is pursuing discussions
with potential strategic and institutional investors for a Series A
funding round expected to close sometime in Q1 to expand company operations.

Frank has been working on developing fuel-efficient vehicles for more
than 30 years. He advises a team of UC Davis students that has
designed and built a series of award-winning vehicles to take part in
the Futurecar, Futuretruck and ChallengeX competitions, sponsored by
the U.S. Department of Energy and leading companies in the auto industry.

For further information contact:
jferchau@... 408-624-1231































arlEDI was founded in 2006 to commercialize Frank's technology. The
company plans to partner with auto designers and manufacturers so
that they can rapidly introduce advanced plug-in hybrid technology
into their vehicles. The company also hopes to establish its own
automotive research and development center in Davis, said Joerg
Ferchau, the company's chief executive officer.

Frank's designs for a "parallel" hybrid powertrain allow significant
increases in fuel efficiency compared with hybrids currently on the
market, Ferchau said. The licensing package also includes an
"intelligent," continuously variable transmission that automatically
selects the right power ratio and eliminates gear shifting.

Frank has been working on developing fuel-efficient vehicles for more
than 30 years. He advises a team of UC Davis students that has
designed and built a series of award-winning vehicles to take part in
the Futurecar, Futuretruck and ChallengeX competitions, sponsored by
the U.S. Department of Energy and leading companies in the auto industry.

About UC Davis InnovationAccess

UC Davis InnovationAccess actively manages a patent portfolio of 841
inventions reflecting the diversity of the campus's research base,
and seeks opportunities to commercialize these via licensing, with
485 currently active licensees. UC Davis has also seen an upsurge in
startup companies emerging from campus research and technologies,
with nearly 20 companies founded since 2005. The UC Davis
InnovationAccess team is comprised of more than 20 professionals with
PhDs, JDs, and MBAs with significant private-sector experience.

Media contact(s):

" Andy Fell, UC Davis News Service, (530) 752-4533, ahfell@...
"




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Felix Kramer fkramer@...
Founder California Cars Initiative
http://www.calcars.org
http://www.calcars.org/news-archive.html
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