New Industry Products

Adura Systems Introduces New Era Electric Powertrain

April 19, 2009 by Jeff Shepard

Adura Systems, Inc., a green powertrain company that has been in stealth mode for the past two years, announced that it is bringing to market a powertrain that offers what the company calls first-in-kind, electric-range capabilities and industry breakthroughs in terms of improved fuel economy and exceeding future emissions standards. The company’s new era electric MESA™ (Modular, Electronic, Scalable Architecture) powertrain, for use in series hybrid, all electric and fuel cell mass transportation buses, large utility vehicles and other automotives provides fuel economy on par with SmartCars.

Adura’s MESA powertrain features patent pending, highly modular systems electronics, an innovative intelligent control software platform and what is described as the industry’s first scalable, field installable energy storage system that can be configured, depending upon users’ requirements, to provide 25, 50 or even 100 miles of initial travel in pure electric mode with subsequent travel in hybrid mode. Combined with an onboard microturbine generator for extended range, MESA is said to dramatically lower emissions and reduce operating costs for buses and large utility vehicles by 50% or more vs. standard diesel powertrains. MESA is slated for initial deployment in mass transportation hybrid buses in China, with U.S. implementations following.

"Until now, powertrain developments have been initiated more from a mechanical systems integration approach, resulting in marginal fuel economy advantages and relatively few miles of electric range," said Marv Bush, CEO of Adura. "Adura’s team of world-class software and electronics engineers took a ground up approach with MESA, creating intelligent electronics, software and energy storage technology that is lighter weight, offers optimized electric range and at a lower total cost of ownership vs. other hybrids currently offered for heavy-duty vehicles. While our product can scale to many types of automotives, we are first pursuing heavy-duty buses and large utility vehicles as there is great demand from municipalities and government institutions for better solutions at lower acquisition costs that provide near zero emissions, greater fuel efficiency and reduced maintenance expenditures."

The first deployment of MESA is to occur in China within the next 12 months. This milestone follows a partnership agreement formed between Adura with the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) in May 2008. Adura is also negotiating contracts in the U.S.

Adura’s propriety MESA consists of several key modules backed by patent-pending electronic and software technology which is said to enable nearly 10X more electric range vs. other hybrid powertrains for mass transportation buses and large utility vehicles. These modules include:

MCtrl is a systems control that optimally and intelligently manages and controls all aspects of the modular system. Designed from the ground up, the system features power management electronics and component electronics that control the MESA modular energy storage system (mStor), electric Generator module (mGen) and the electric motor module (mDrive).

Mstor is a patent-pending, scalable user installable energy storage system that can be configured to provide 25, 50 or 100 miles of electric range in heavy transit buses. mStor modules can be easily added or subtracted to meet users’ varying electric mode requirements. The mStor modular battery system is fault tolerant, chemistry agnostic and allows the mixing of battery chemistries within the storage system.

Mbridg is the interface between the System, the bus accessories and infotainment. It provides the driver interfaces and the near real-time automated systems maintenance diagnosis and reports for the driver and maintenance support staff. mGen enables the use of diesel, microturbine and fuel cells as sources of onboard electricity generation. mGen intelligently charges the energy storage system modules (mStor) when low state-of-charge conditions arise. Mdrive is an electric motor provides propulsion to the bus and provides regenerative breaking. The system motor is optimally controlled by mCtrl to deliver smooth, efficient acceleration and breaking. There is no transmission – the motor connects directly to the driveshaft.