Thursday, November 4, 2010

Kinetic Traction Systems, With VC Backing, Takes On Mass Transit Energy Storage

Chatsworth-based Kinetic Traction Systems, a new startup headed by former Pentadyne Power COO Richard Newark, said today that it has launched the firm, and is looking to apply flywheel energy storage to the mass transit and rail market. The company--which is backed by Rustic Canyon Partners, Loudwater Trust, and DTE Energy Ventures--is aiming to make mass transit and rail systems more energy efficient. The firm is applying flywheel energy storage system technology to absorb energy and generate power in rail systems, applying regenerative braking energy from rail cars and for electric rail systems. The firm said its technology has already been applied to the NYC Transit, London Underground and Lyon Metro, France. Pentadyne is a major developer of flywheel-based uninterruptible power systems; in addition to Newark, Kinetic's executive team includes Rudi Lautz, CFO and Chandler Williamson, VP sales and Chief Marketing Officer, who are also both previously from Pentadyne.