World Flywheel Consortium, Inc. Creates Breakthrough Flywheel Energy Storage Technology That is Demonstrable in a Fully Integrated System

PRINCETON, NJ - Technology Management & Funding, L.P. (TMF), a firm providing unique commercialization and funding alternatives to emerging high-technology companies, today announced the addition of World Flywheel Consortium, Inc. (WFC) to its portfolio of companies. WFC has united the most critical technologies to create the first and only commercially viable flywheel energy storage system. The flywheel system also provides the advantage of being one of the few energy storage technologies that is "environmentally friendly."

"This flywheel system is a significant technological breakthrough that will revolutionize energy storage," said Dr. Anthony C. Warren, president of TMF. "We have already received tremendous response from parties interested in incorporating flywheel technology into their businesses. TMF is very proud and excited to have WFC as a company in its portfolio, and I foresee great successes in TMF's and WFC's collaborative efforts."

The flywheel system was designed to provide regenerative braking and acceleration boosting in hybrid electric vehicles. Other applications beyond electric cars and buses include: uninterruptible power supplies, signal conditioning, space-based power systems, load leveling in the utility industry, and storing alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power to match generation with usage. Unlike batteries, there are no hazardous byproducts. Other benefits of the flywheel system include high round-trip efficiency, high power density, short "fast charge" time and long service life-time with high reliability and low maintenance.

"This is the only flywheel system which successfully integrates the critical components," said David Friedman, vice president of World Flywheel Consortium, Inc. "Prior to this, components have only been proven on an individual basis. Our technology overcomes the problems of friction, speed, heat and rotor dynamics, long life, and benign fail-safe protection with patented technologies that have been developed by WFC affiliates who are leaders in all of the critical component technology industries."

WFC has developed a fully functional flywheel technology demonstration unit designed for 0.5 kWh of energy storage and 40 kW of power that is currently running at over 26,000 rpm, the first of its kind. With the difficult task of system integration successfully achieved, the design is easily scalable for power and energy storage requirements to suit a wide variety of applications.

TMF specializes in establishing partnering relationships between the technology-based companies in its portfolio and corporations that can provide funding and market access for these innovative technologies. TMF's commercialization plan for WFC will initially focus on partnering activities within the utility and transportation industries. These markets are estimated at more than five billion dollars worldwide.

Currently, TMF is in discussions with a select group of utilities and equipment providers, automotive and bus companies, and uninterruptible power source suppliers concerning the establishment of business relationships for specific markets. This will leverage the unique advantages of the WFC system, and position WFC as the first major player in the flywheel industry. Several carbon fiber companies have also expressed interest in WFC's technology.

Technology Management & Funding, L.P., based in Princeton, New Jersey, accelerates the process of building equity value in emerging high-technology companies, while minimizing investment risk. TMF bridges the gap between technological innovation and commercialization by establishing partnerships between technology companies and major corporations. TMF reviews in excess of 1000 technologies annually, and has a strict selection criteria for those technology companies that enter into its portfolio. TMF holds equity interest in its growing portfolio of companies, that currently totals over 35. TMF's portfolio includes companies that have developed breakthrough technologies ranging from industrial products and biotechnology to software and telecommunications. TMF has secured partnering relationships with numerous prominent corporations including AT&T, Robert Bosch and 3M.