Fallbrook Technologies' NuVinci® DeltaSeries™ May Deliver up to 24 Percent Fuel Savings on Dynasys™ Auxiliary Power Units Based on Recent Study

SAN DIEGO, April 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Fallbrook Technologies Inc. (Fallbrook) announced today that its NuVinci® DeltaSeries™ continuously variable planetary (CVP) technology provided a nearly 24 percent fuel savings for a Dynasys™ class 8 truck auxiliary power unit (APU) in recent independently performed computer simulations.

Fallbrook is a company dedicated to improving the performance and flexibility of transmissions for engine and human-powered devices.  The Dynasys APU is a product of Hodyon, a wholly-owned Fallbrook subsidiary.

The Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®) released its findings after modeling the use of Fallbrook's NuVinci DeltaSeries CVP in conjunction with the Dynasys APU. SwRI is one of the oldest and largest independent, nonprofit, applied research and development organizations in the United States.

"We're proud of what this research means in terms of our ability to reduce diesel fuel usage by improving systems efficiency," said William G. Klehm, Chairman and CEO of Fallbrook Technologies. "The NuVinci DeltaSeries is a new class of continuously variable transmission technology that, when integrated in applications like APUs, acts as an energy management system.  We believe it changes the game for many markets confronting the seemingly incompatible tasks of optimizing both fuel efficiency and performance."

"Reducing idle fuel usage becomes more important every day with the rising costs of diesel," said Rob Smithson, CTO and Vice President of Business Development for Fallbrook Technologies. "We believe the NuVinci DeltaSeries CVP's ability to act as a systemic energy management device for the APU provides the Dynasys brand with a competitive advantage over other "me too" APUs."

This marks the first in a series of independent studies Fallbrook has commissioned to measure the positive impact of its patented CVP technology on a wide variety of transportation applications in terms of fuel efficiency and performance. The NuVinci DeltaSeries line optimizes system operation by using the company's patented CVP technology.

Instead of the traditional gear and clutch mechanisms found in conventional transmissions, these products leverage a set of rotating spheres that are arranged around a central "sun" that transfers torque between two "rings." Tilting the spheres changes their contact diameters on the rings, permitting an infinite progression of speed ratios. The result is a smooth, seamless and continuous transition to any ratio within its range, maximizing overall powertrain efficiency. More information is available at http://www.fallbrooktech.com/03_CVAD.asp.

About Hodyon

Hodyon, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fallbrook Technologies Inc., is a manufacturer and distributor of energy-efficient products and systems that reduce the magnitude of climate change. Located in Round Rock and Austin, Texas, with 28 employees, Hodyon is ISO 9001:2000 certified and the 59th fastest growing, privately-held manufacturer in the United States, according to Inc. Magazine.

Auxiliary power units (APUs) are used on heavy trucks to provide power for heating and air conditioning, lighting and electronic systems in circumstances where the diesel engine must be turned off. Hodyon's diesel-electric Dynasys™ APU system provides dependable comfort for the driver during down times, reduces emissions and lowers fuel costs during stops (vs. idling of the main engine). Hodyon's current APU embodies a design it considers superior and the company provides field support, customer service and product fleet trial programs viewed by customers as significantly better than the competition.

About Fallbrook Technologies Inc.

Fallbrook's NuVinci® continuously variable planetary (CVP) technology improves the performance and efficiency of machines that use a transmission, including bicycles, electric vehicles, automobiles, agricultural equipment, wind turbines and others. The NuVinci technology offers companies the flexibility to design and produce next-generation products that are better tailored to their unique business, market and competitive requirements. An example of a next generation product is a NuVinci CVP that controls the speed of automotive accessory drives (including air conditioning compressors, alternators, and superchargers) independently of engine speed, thereby improving fuel economy or increasing performance or both.

Fallbrook has built an extensive portfolio of over 375 patents and patent applications worldwide. The company intends to continue its research and development activities to enhance the performance and capabilities of NuVinci technology.

For more information, visit www.fallbrooktech.com

SOURCE Fallbrook Technologies Inc.