AeroVironment Awarded Patent for Core Battery Charging Technology
MONROVIA, Calif., Sept. 18, 2007 -- AeroVironment, Inc. (AV) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a leader in unmanned aircraft systems and efficient electric energy systems, has been granted a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a battery charging innovation that enables simultaneous or parallel charging of multiple batteries. The USPTO awarded AV patent No. 7,256,516 titled, Battery charging system and method, on August 14.
Filed in 2003, the new patent expands upon AV's intellectual property portfolio in the area of battery charging technology. The patented technology enables AV's customers to overcome limitations associated with traditional sequential charging technologies. Using proprietary power management controllers and intelligent algorithms, the technology distributes electrical power based on the unique power needs of each battery to support industrial and on-road electric vehicle applications. The technology results in reduced charging times, minimizes the need for electrical infrastructure at customer sites, and supports increased operating productivity.
Parallel charging technology is at the heart of the company's PosiCharge DVS (Dual Vehicle) and MVS (Multi-Vehicle) industrial fast charge systems and provides both a more cost-effective and productive battery charging solution than traditional charging technologies.
Our customers have come to rely on this technology to improve their operations and this is further evidence that we have a unique solution to the problems associated with changing batteries," said Pat Dellario, general manager and vice president of AV PosiCharge Systems.
This is a key differentiator for us in the industrial electric vehicle marketplace. The granting of this patent validates our technological leadership and reflects our history of innovation, Dellario said.
About PosiCharge
PosiCharge fast charge systems allow users to eliminate the battery room and its associated challenges, thereby recovering run time, enhancing productivity, optimizing assets, and improving worker safety. PosiCharge fast charges each battery in the vehicle during scheduled breaks, so the battery never leaves the vehicle. The result is instant productivity improvement, a cleaner and safer work environment, and a streamlined workflow that no longer stops for battery changing. With proprietary technology that safeguards batteries by customizing each charge, PosiCharge can actually extend a battery's useful life compared to traditional charging solutions, further optimizing operations. PosiCharge has been supporting high-velocity Fortune and Global 500 facilities for more than six years. PosiCharge is an AeroVironment, Inc. business. For more information about PosiCharge, please visit www.posicharge.com.
About AeroVironment, Inc.
Building on a history of technological innovation, AV designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and efficient electric energy systems. The company's small UAS are used extensively by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and increasingly by allied military forces to deliver real-time reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition to tactical operating units. AV's PosiCharge fast charge systems eliminate battery changing for electric industrial vehicles in factories, airports, and distribution centers. For more information about AV, please visit www.avinc.com.
Contact:
AeroVironment, Inc.
Steven Gitlin
+1 (626) 357-9983
pr@avinc.com
Mark Boyer
For AeroVironment, Inc.
+1 (310) 455-7812
mark@boyersyn.com
