• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Amerigon BSST Subsidiary Selected as Partner in U.S. Department of Energy Project to Develop Thermoelectric Technology for Automotive Heating, Cooling

Posted on: Thursday, 4 December 2008, 12:12 CST

NORTHVILLE, Mich., Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Amerigon Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARGN), a leader in developing and marketing products based on advanced thermoelectric (TE) technologies, today announced that its subsidiary, BSST LLC, will partner in a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) project to develop a highly-efficient thermoelectric heating and cooling system for automobiles that will substantially reduce energy consumption, engine load and ultimately greenhouse gas emissions. The goal of the 36-month, up to $8.4 million project is to create a zonal heating and cooling system for automobiles that heats or cools the vehicle occupants, rather than the entire cabin and its components, thereby reducing the energy consumed by existing heating/cooling systems by one third.

In announcing the program, the DOE noted that the use of efficient solid state TE devices such as those developed by BSST can "increase vehicle efficiency by reducing engine load" and the ultimate reduction or elimination of the need for conventional air conditioning refrigerants will "further reduce greenhouse gas emissions." Overall, the project is part of the DOE's goal to "promote a diverse supply and delivery of reliable, affordable and environmentally sound alternative energy," the DOE added.

Ford Motor Company was selected to lead the project with partners including Visteon, the DOE's National Energy Renewable Laboratory, and Ohio State University, along with BSST. BSST's role is to design and develop the thermoelectric core of the heating and cooling system.

Nancy Gioia, Director Sustainable Mobility Technology and Hybrid Vehicle Programs, added that this project supports Ford Motor Company's strategy to significantly improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while enhancing its customers' driving experience.

BSST President Lon E. Bell said the project will couple the TE technology developed for Amerigon's Climate Control Seat(TM) (CCS(TM)) system with a new vehicle level heating and cooling technology being developed by BSST.

"This is another case where we can extend our proprietary TE technology outside of automobile seats," said Bell. "This project begins to change the paradigm for vehicle level heating and cooling. If we can heat and cool the occupants only, and not attempt to heat or cool the entire vehicle, we will see important energy savings. We look forward to working with Ford, the DOE and the other partners in the project."

The entire $8.4 million project will be performed on a cost share basis with DOE paying $4.2 million and the partners sharing in a matching $4.2 million.

BSST is also involved with the DOE in another separate but ongoing project to create an efficient and practical TE system to convert waste engine heat from an automobile's exhaust system to electrical power.

About Amerigon

Amerigon (Nasdaq: ARGN) develops products based on its advanced, proprietary, efficient thermoelectric (TE) technologies for a wide range of global markets and heating and cooling applications. The Company's current principal product is its proprietary Climate Control Seat(TM) (CCS(TM)) system, a solid-state, TE-based system that permits drivers and passengers of vehicles to individually and actively control the heating and cooling of their respective seats to ensure maximum year-round comfort. CCS, which is the only system of its type on the market today, uses no CFCs or other environmentally sensitive coolants. Amerigon maintains sales and technical support centers in Southern California, Detroit, Japan, Germany, England and Korea.

Certain matters discussed in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may be different. Important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from its expectations in this release are risks that sales may not significantly increase, additional financing, if necessary, may not be available, new competitors may arise and adverse conditions in the automotive industry may negatively affect its results. The liquidity and trading price of its common stock may be negatively affected by these and other factors. Please also refer to Amerigon's Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including, but not limited to, its Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2008 and its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

SOURCE Amerigon Incorporated

Source: PR Newswire

More News in this Category