ArcActive wins Excellence Award at CleanEquity Monaco 2012

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, April 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ArcActive, a clean technology company that has developed a battery for start/stop and mild hybrid motor vehicles was named, by an independent panel of judges, audited by H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco, as best in class for Excellence in Environmental Technology Research at CleanEquity Monaco 2012.

CleanEquity, the foremost emerging cleantech conference was hosted by Innovator Capital, the London specialist investment bank and the Nobel Sustainability Trust.

ArcActive's technology uses a new negative electrode for lead acid batteries that allows high dynamic charge acceptance. Trials data show that the battery can recharge efficiently and retain long life qualities despite many more start/stops per day.

The ArcActive battery is also cost competitive and has potential for fuel savings of between 10-15%, compared with less than 5% if AGM batteries are used for start/stop motoring.

Mungo Park, Chariman of Innovator Capital, said that, "ArcActive ticks all the boxes, this is an exceptional company whose technology has world relevance. It is our collective responsibility to make sure of its rapid, international availability."

Stuart McKenzie, ArcActive's Chief Executive, says the win has accelerated interest from battery makers and the automotive industry.

"The key issue for batteries in this market is the rate that they can accept a charge." Mr. McKenzie added, "Our founder, Prof. John Abrahamson, has developed a carbon material that is ideal for use as electrodes."

"The technology is one that will improve the efficiency of internal combustion engine vehicles. H.S.H Prince Albert acknowledged in His speech the need for rapid adoption of environmental technologies, such as ours, that are appropriate for the mass market."

Mr McKenzie says the market for start/stop batteries has been forecast to grow from five million batteries a year in 2011 to 39 million in 2017 and nearly 100 million in 2020 – a US$12 billion market.

While the Christchurch based company has already a strong patent portfolio Mr. McKenzie says ArcActive is moving carefully towards commercialisation.

ArcActive, which grew out of the University of Canterbury, was backed by New Zealand's Ministry of Science and Innovation to be selected for CleanEquity Monaco.

CleanEquity Monaco 2012 collaborators included Prince Albert II of Monaco's Foundation, the Hinduja Foundation, Qualcomm Halo, PR Newswire, Covington & Burling, Ministry of Science and Innovation New Zealand, Auckland UniServices, Clark Langdon Partners, Carbon Trust an the United Nations UNEP Fi, Monte-Carlo SBM and the Monaco Chamber of Economic Development.

For more information contact:
Stuart McKenzie
Chief Executive
ArcActive Ltd
Tel: +64 3 3519971
Email: [email protected]

Tom Faggionato
Head of CleanEquity
Innovator Capital Ltd
Tel: +44 20 72976840
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE ArcActive