Energy Dense Power Systems Joins University of Maryland Technology Company Incubator

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Jan 27, 2010, 10:23 ET

Company Develops High-Energy, Intelligent Battery Systems

COLLEGE PARK, Md., Jan. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Energy Dense Power Systems LLC, a company developing innovative, "green," high-energy, battery-based power management product solutions, has joined the University of Maryland's Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech) Technology Advancement Program (TAP) incubator, institute officials announce today.

The company builds and sells light-weight, energy-dense, intelligent battery packs that allow an end user to greatly extend the operation of portable equipment or create situations that can allow equipment to run indefinitely with wind, solar, generator or grid recharge.

EDPS' products combine arrays of lithium-ion (or other chemistry) battery packs with the company's proprietary power management system to safely and efficiently store and release energy. EDPS' technology provides a scalable, building-block architecture, allowing them to quickly power almost any electronic or electro-mechanical device with battery packs.

"Our patent-pending power management systems are a unique combination of technologies that provide safe, easy to install and maintain, scalable, high-energy, regulated power sources," says Christopher Donavin, CEO of EDPS. "Our battery packs are used to power mission-critical equipment in remote and fixed locations, as well as any electronic devices that can benefit from lighter, more energy-dense battery applications. Our system can even be recharged as it powers a device."

EDPS can provide a kilowatt of power from a lunchbox-sized battery pack that weighs only 25 pounds, according to Donavin. That pack can replace 100 pounds of lead acid batteries. Plus, it can be recharged through solar panels or wind turbines, which EDPS also provides, enabling customers to remain off the conventional power grid indefinitely.

EDPS is the only U.S. company capable of safely multiplexing energy-dense, lithium-ion, SMBus cell packs that meet the U.S. and United Nations criteria for transport as non-hazardous material, according to Donavin. The batteries can be safely disposed into any municipal waste stream.

EDPS' battery packs range in size and power provided from 300W hours to 50 kW hours. The company's programmable power management system contains sensors, intelligence, communications, self-diagnostics, status reporting and control capabilities. Each battery block is designed to protect itself and operate autonomously should communication with other modules fail.

The intelligent battery system also acts as a power conditioner or uninterruptible power supply and protects the battery packs and powered equipment from harm should they be connected to a conventional power grid providing unregulated or "dirty" power.

EDPS moved to TAP to work with faculty and students at the University of Maryland. The company is already exploring research partnerships with several faculty members to further develop its products.

Founded in 2008, EDPS is privately funded and employs six persons.

About Mtech's Technology Advancement Program (TAP) (www.tap.umd.edu)

For over 20 years, TAP has helped entrepreneurs build some of the most successful technology companies in the mid-Atlantic region. TAP's staff is comprised of seasoned veterans of startups and venture capital firms who provide business advice and support, market intelligence, introductions, access to funding and other critical assistance that can accelerate the growth of technology ventures. TAP offers furnished offices and flexible lab space as well as a multitude of other benefits and services that can only be found at a technology business incubator situated right on the campus of one of the nation's top public universities, the University of Maryland. TAP was the first technology business incubator in the state of Maryland and is the birthplace of two of Maryland's billion dollar companies: Gaithersburg-based Digene Corporation (now part of Qiagen) and Columbia-based Martek Biosciences.

About Energy Dense Power Systems (www.energydensepowersystems.com)

EDPS is a privately held company established to develop unique, energy-dense, battery-based power systems incorporating their intelligent programmable power management technology. Our products today have been integrated into a variety of applications in the scientific, military, marine, and telecommunications industries. We are providing safe, light-weight, powerful battery applications that greatly extend the operational capability of almost any electronic or electro-mechanical device. With the availability of talented engineers and skilled manufacturing contractors, EDPS provides a solid resource base for continued innovation and growth.

SOURCE University of Maryland