This was a trial, so that the client could experience the superior  energy storage, burst and durability of the Lithium Power Pack, which includes state-of-the-art lithium-ion cells and our proprietary Battery Management System (BMS).

Well, the LPP performed as expected for two weeks – that is, it enabled a heavy-duty short-haul truck to go all day, with zero maintenance required, and greater capacity due to a dramatically lighter load of batteries.

Then one day the truck suddenly died. The batteries were drained, all the way to zero.

This was totally uncharacteristic –  the LPP normally lasts for 2,000 cycles, or six years. So we began to investigate what happened. Before long, we heard from the client, who gave us the rest of the story: It turns out that the employee who drove the vehicle intentionally left the key in and the light on, so that the power would drain all the way down.

It seems that when the truck ran on lead acid batteries, it died every day at 2 p.m. – and the employee could go home.  Once we installed the LPP in his truck, he actually had to work a full shift!

That guy is probably not a fan of the LPP. But as more and more fleet managers are discovering, the LPP is pretty awesome. And not just because it cuts into employees’ nap time.

When you factor in savings from:

• Faster charging
• Improved productivity
• Less weight
• Much longer life

… the LPP is actually a better bargain than lead acid batteries.

We’re going to find out — and one fleet manager is going to be very happy. GRRReen technicians today swapped out some lead acid batteries in a Taylor Dunn ET-150 72V Electruck for the Lithium Power Pack from GRRReen.

And they made the truck a lot lighter in the process.

They removed 12 AGM lead-acid battery cells that weighed a total of 770 pounds, and replaced  them with one 100 Amp Hour, 72V Lithium Power Pack that weighed only 182 pounds.

After reducing the weight of the vehicle by 588 pounds, it might be necessary to rewrite the spec sheet.

It says here that the RT-150, powered by an electric drivetrain, “can reach speeds of up to 25 miles per hour, while providing over 40 miles in range,” and that it will “carry loads of up to 1,500 pounds.”

With 770 pounds of lead acid batteries

We’ll be watching closely to see how much farther and faster it will go now that it’s powered by the Lithium Power Pack!

With two Lithium Power Packs, weighing 182 pounds

We are Plug In Hybrid, Inc. That’s our name today, and it’s not bad. Totally descriptive, and like Xerox and Kleenex, it gives us ownership of the space, in a way. But we’re thinking big, and we want to find a name that matches our vision.

Cast your vote now — or read on below to learn more about the company.

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More about the company you’re helping us name

We have developed a solution that enables us to convert existing trucks, vans and SUVs into more fuel-efficient hybrid-electric vehicles. That means you’ll still be able to tool around in your Escalade, while leaving the same carbon footprint as a Prius driver. Seriously.

Some more important facts about our company: We have a patent-pending technology solution, created in conjunction with Andy Frank, Ph.D. of UC Davis (a pioneer in the development of technology now used in the Toyota Prius and other hybrids) that incorporates:

• An electric motor attached to the differential
• The driver’s choice of a battery pack that meets specific driving needs
• The software controller that allows the gas engine, the electric motor and the battery pack to work together in a seamless manner, requiring no input from the driver

This solution is simple, practical and affordable, and appropriate for fleets and individual motorists. It will:

• Save money for people by allowing them to spend less on fuel.
• Help save the environment by reducing greenhouse gases.
• And enhance our national security by lessening our reliance on foreign oil.

And it’s just about ready to go. We will be driving two prototypes in Plug in America’s Inaugural Parade in Santa Monica on Jan. 17.

We are eager to bring our solution to market, and we will publish pricing and availability information as soon as it’s available.

Meanwhile, we want your help in finding a creative name that matches the exciting potential of the product. The way we see it, we are in partnership with you in creating a more energy-efficient method of personal transportation that empowers all of us live in a more sustainable way.

Please vote for your favorite in the list below, or you can leave your suggestions in the comments field below.

Let us know if you have questions, and tell your friends. Thank you!