The awards categories were:
1. New Vehicle Application Award - land, water or air
This award was given to an actual commercial success with an end-product (in the last 24 months, December 2008 - December 2010). Judges looked for success in terms of products sold and revenues generated.
2. Imaginative Vehicle Award - land, water or air
This award was given to a company which had developed and launched an imaginative vehicle either for land, water or air (in the last 24 months,
December 2008 - December 2010) and was in the process of bringing it to market. The category was assessed on the technical development of the product, its market potential, and benefits it brings over alternatives.
3. New Component or Material Technology Award
This award was given to the most significant technical development over
the last 24 months (December 2008 - December 2010) in the field of component or material development.
New Vehicle Application Award - land, water or air
The New Vehicle Application Category was awarded to Tamarack Lake Electric Boat Company, the developers of the Loon Solar Boat.
Left to right Mr Ray Hirani, Dr Peter Harrop, Montgomery Gisborne
The company developed a vessel that leaves no mark on the water other than the gentle wake that trails behind. Founder, Montgomery Gisborne says "recreational boating enjoyed without environmental repercussions", this is the philosophy behind the Tamarack Lake Electric Boat Company and vision of company.
Tamarack is revolutionising the boating industry with the Loon, the first commercially-available recreational solar-powered electric boat on the market. Already sold in the U.S, Canada, Mexico and Belize, the Loon is a stylishly innovative boat powered by photovoltaic cells. The hull is made of bio-composite materials which have a low embodied energy. Pollutants and toxins emitted from conventional recreational boats have severe implications on the ecosystem; many are still powered by highly-polluting 2-stroke outboard motors.
In 2009, Tamarack built a solar-powered boat called the Osprey. The third generation of Loon solar boat is about to start production in Western New York in 2010.
The Imaginative Vehicle Award - land, water or air
The Imaginative Vehicle category was received by Revolution Motors' who's vision is to offer the average citizen an experience of "Independent Energy"; a capability, a lifestyle, and a driving experience beyond the current automotive paradigm.
Revolution's first vehicle "Dagne" is a three-wheel (two wheels in front, one in back) high-performance electric vehicle. Patented technology allows Dagne to achieve amazing handling by actually leaning into turns, a driving experience which the company claims is more like flying, with crisp road-hugging capability and smooth, quiet acceleration taking you from 0-60mph in a mere 5 seconds with a top speed of over 100mph.
Dagne's 40-mile daily commute is recharged by a small, inexpensive solar panel on the roof of your home. Travel ranges from 100 miles on solo electric power, to over 600 miles with the onboard flex-fuel hybrid generator. As a hybrid Dagne boasts an impressive 150mpg.
Dagne is not a luxury vehicle, but is a quality vehicle, providing a compelling value proposition to the customer through minimal cost-of-ownership - with a price tag $25,000 Dagne will fit the budget alongside the full-sized family car.
Safety and comfort are core features of Dagne's design - in spite of extreme performance and ultra-efficiency it presents herself as a sound choice for everyday commuting. The company believes that Dagne has the potential to move from novelty to mass appeal.
New Component or Material Technology Award
The New Components or Materials Technology category was awarded to Levant Power Corporation for their GenShock system.
Left to right; Zackary M. Anderson COO Levant Power, Dr Peter Harrop, Chairman IDTechEx
Levant Power has developed a patented means of converting wasted suspension motion into electricity. When used in vehicular applications, GenShock simultaneously provides energy and computer-controlled damping capability. The technology takes the place of traditional passive shock absorbers and turns bumps in the road into meaningful electricity that can be used to improve fuel economy, power on-board systems, improve hybrid range, and deliver significant ride and handling benefits. In long haul trucking fleets, GenShock is said to save $600-1000/year/truck, which is based on fielded pilot studies. For the top 100 trucking fleets, the top 20 transit fleets, and multiple military fleets, this represents millions of dollars in reduced fuel and operating costs annually.
The technology leverages existing shock components, extending product life by reducing operating temperatures over traditional shocks and by using enhancements to proven components such as critical seals and fluids. Recent trends in the suspension industry are towards premium "semi-active" shocks - a capability GenShock delivers while generating energy.
For more attend: Future of Electric Vehicles Europe 2011.
