HEVT has developed a game-changing alternative to induction and permanent magnet motors. HEVT’s switched reluctance motor technologies are poised to empower the next generation of electric motors, making performance leaps with unmatched reliability and reduced cost volatility due to the use of zero rare earth minerals.
High-Performance, High-Efficiency, Low-Cost Electric Motors
Company name: HEVT, Chicago, Illinois
Region: North Central
www.hevt.com | @Heidi_Lubin
Elevator pitch
HEVT’s game-changing motor technologies leverage smart software with optimally designed hardware to empower the next generation of electric motors. With lower initial and total cost of ownership, our motors make performance leaps with superior reliability and reduced cost volatility due to the combination of innovative hardware and software design – and our motors do not require the use of rare earth metals.
Our patented switched reluctance motors (SRMs) provide high-performance alternatives to induction and permanent magnet motor/generators with increased reliability and disruptive cost benefits. Our minimum viable product is being rolled out to provide electrical assist to bicycles (eBikes) but our SRMs disrupt current motor technology from approximately 150 watts scalable to one megawatt and beyond – or from air conditioners to oil and gas pumps. HEVT is one of a very few companies globally with SRM expertise and the necessary and complimentary expertise in power electronics and control. We are holding customer purchase orders in our first market and our technologies have attracted funding from the Department of Energy’s ARPA-E.
How it changes the world
To date, most motors are manufactured in China because rare earth mining and refining capacity is concentrated in China. Mining and refining rare earth metals is a process that causes air, land and water pollution because these metals are typically located in bands of ore that include radioactive thorium. Not only do our technologies enable electric motors free of rare earth metals – thereby reducing environmental and public health impact – but the manufacturing process is disruptively elegant – we can scale production of our motors quickly and globally, creating local jobs in the process. Finally, our motors are highly reliable and efficient, high-performing and less costly: we reduce the initial and lifetime cost of ownership – a critical building block to enabling adoption of renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable transportation technologies in the U.S. and throughout the world.
If you win?
Our technology solves a critical global problem – the Global Forum provides an important opportunity to accelerate our growth and meet growing customer demand for our product in a challenging capital environment.
Memorable Cleantech Open moment?
Quick shout-out to our mentors and the many fantastic entrepreneurs we’ve gotten to meet along the way – it’s been a pleasure!
