TEAM Industries, Fallbrook Technologies Partner to Develop Electric Vehicle Transmission Prototypes

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. and SAN DIEGO, Jan. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- TEAM Industries along with technology development company, Fallbrook Technologies (Fallbrook) announced today their partnership to develop electric vehicle transmission prototypes.

The first initiative under the agreement is for the Tomberlin Anvil™, a street-legal Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) offering a range of more than 40 miles.  

"We are equally committed to improve both the performance and battery life of electric vehicles," said Rob Smithson, Fallbrook's Vice President of Business Development and CTO.  "Our NuVinci® product line is ideal for this. It allows an electric car motor to operate in a more efficient manner by continuously optimizing the electric powertrain for driving conditions."

Production of the powertrain will occur at TEAM Industries' Minnesota-based facilities. "Working with Fallbrook on this initiative makes perfect sense for us," said Tony Passanante, Senior Director of Marketing and Strategic Planning for the company. "Our core competency is designing and manufacturing systems that transmit power and put it to work quietly and efficiently."

Unlike conventional gear and clutch transmissions, the NuVinci continuously variable planetary transmission (CVP) uses a set of rotating and tilting balls positioned between the input and output components of the transmission that tilt to vary the speed of the transmission resulting in a seamless and continuous transition to any ratio within its range.

"TEAM Industries is committed to developing innovative products that advance electric vehicle driveline systems," said Passanante.

"We're continually searching for leading suppliers capable of providing technologies to make our eco-friendly automobiles more compelling and exciting than anything else like it on the market," said Michael Tomberlin, CEO of Tomberlin. "That means offering improved hill climbing, acceleration and towing capacity as well as other rider benefits in our vehicles. Developing systems that enable electric vehicles to enhance performance is a key step towards achieving that goal, thus we are very pleased to support the Fallbrook-TEAM development initiative."

About TEAM Industries

TEAM Industries designs and manufactures systems that take power and puts it to work quietly and efficiently.  Driving innovation with six locations throughout Minnesota and North Carolina, headquartered in Bagley, Minnesota, TEAM has been developing performance and reliability enhancing components for original equipment manufacturers since 1967. More information is available at www.TEAM-IND.com.

About Fallbrook Technologies Inc.

Headquartered in San Diego, Fallbrook Technologies Inc. improves the performance and flexibility of transmissions for vehicles and equipment.  The company's NuVinci continuously variable planetary (CVP) technology is applicable to machines that use a transmission, including bicycles, light electric vehicles, automobiles, agricultural equipment and wind turbines.  NuVinci technology offers companies the flexibility to design and produce next-generation products better tailored to their unique business, market and competitive requirements.

Fallbrook Technologies has an extensive portfolio of over 375 patents and patent applications worldwide.  More information is available at www.fallbrooktech.com.

© 2011 by Fallbrook Technologies Inc. and TEAM Industries, Inc.  All rights reserved.

SOURCE Fallbrook Technologies Inc.