Brad Wilburn
Fort Worth, TX (USA)
Role(s):
Founder/Owner/Principal
AltGas Technologies/LifeForce Energy Corp
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Startup
Location:
Salinas
Industry:
Technology/Web
Year Founded:
2007
Number Employees:
1-10 people
Business Stage:
Growth (not profitable)
Entity Type:
Limited Liability Company
Description:
AltGas DynaPower‐Li APU Development History
It was in 2007 that we first began development of a propane APU for trucks. We were determined to build a clean burning, less expensive alternative to diesel APUs. We knew that Diesels were on their way out. Too much weight, maintenance, pollution, and way too expensive for the average trucker. As it turned out, the first APU we developed (it was Chinese) never got off the ground – primarily because they just didn’t hold up under heavy truck conditions. So we abandoned that product and went on to another. Realizing that diesel APUs were soon to be history, we teamed up with Corvus Energy. Corvus has a unique Lithium Ion battery technology that outperforms all others. Corvus approached us with the idea of creating a hybrid APU – using their Li battery, and backing it up with our propane APU. Corvus has the first Li battery that is safe to use on vehicles because it will not explode or burn when penetrated ‐ like others do. It didn’t take long to realize that with Corvus’ battery, there would be no need to back it up with anything. Its power density and longevity is – by itself – more than adequate to provide ample power under almost all trucking conditions. We brought in Dometic USA as the air conditioning partner, and together, developed the first and only Lithium Ion battery powered APU for trucks.
To give you some idea of how much better this system is than other battery powered APUs; our 139 lb. battery has the equivalent power of 10 high‐end AGM batteries ‐ weighing about 700 lbs. Our battery can be recharged at least 8,000 times ‐ as opposed to perhaps 250 times for AGMs under the same conditions ‐ and ours is warranted for 10 years. For all intents and purposes, this APU is maintenance free, has no moving parts, and uses two cable connections ‐ instead of 20 for AGMs. Our APU costs about the same as a CARB‐compliant diesel APU and saves roughly double the fuel – without the down‐time or maintenance. And finally, it powers a true 10,000 BTU AC unit for 10 hours ‐ with power to spare for the truck hotel load and to provide emergency starting in the event the truck batteries go dead.
I don’t believe we need to “sell” this product to anyone because it really sells itself. From day 1 after it is installed on a truck, that truck puts $500 a month in the owners pocket after he makes the lease payment. No other APU even comes close. That’s $6,000 a year per truck, and once the lease is paid off, that number goes to almost $10,000 – per truck ‐ every year. Remember, these APUs are good for 10 years.
We also have a cutting edge propane diesel injection system for trucks. There isn't enough room here to go into detail on this product but what I will say is that this system decreases the trucks fuel consumption by a guaranteed 15%...(typically they will see a 20+% decrease). We have a lease purchase program for this product also.
Can you think of a reason a company wouldn't buy these two products? Not only do they generate millions of dollars through a new revenue source, they cost the companies NO upfront money.