PowerGenix signs deal with PowerEagle

PowerGenix has entered into a supply agreement with PowerEagle, a manufacturer of electric bicycles in China.

Under the agreement, PowerGenix will supply its nickel-zinc (NiZn) cells for pack fabrication into the entire product line offered by Veloteq, PowerEagle’s North American sales and distribution partner, beginning in 2009.

Veloteq acknowledged that PowerGenix’s NiZn batteries will enable the company “to achieve optimum performance while reducing power system size and weight.”

For its part, Veloteq investigated both nickel metal-hydride and lithium-ion technologies, but found that under deep discharge conditions only PowerGenix’s NiZn provided the high storage capacity that its power systems require while meeting Veloteq’s safety and reliability mandates.

As per the information available, PowerGenix’s power systems will be featured in both Veloteq’s “power-on-demand” models, powered exclusively by the electric motor, as well as “power-assist” models that require manual pedaling assisted by the electric motor.

PowerGenix batteries will also be incorporated in future product developments including an electric motorcycle that complies with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) standards.

PowerGenix’s batteries will allow Veloteq to increase the power output and range of their bikes while still achieving battery pack weight savings of 60 percent.

By providing more power and runtime in a smaller and lighter form factor, PowerGenix’s NiZn batteries allow ebike users to travel 40 miles on a single charge costing as little as three cents, five to six times less expensive compared with lead-acid batteries. In addition, charge time is cut down 75 percent to about 1 to 2 hours, providing enhanced mobility and longer travel ranges for ebike commuters, stated the company.