Onboard Dynamics receives $3M from ARPA-E, others for innovative CNG refueling technology
27 April 2016
Onboard Dynamics, Inc. (ObDI), an innovator in compressed natural gas (CNG) refueling, has received $3 million from the US Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E), Portland Seed Fund, NW Natural and other utilities, and private investors. Onboard Dynamics is currently pursuing two compressed natural gas refueling solutions, based on novel technology for both on- and off-vehicle applications:
- A fully integrated onboard engine-compressor system
- A standalone, mobile, self-powered compressor system
This additional funding commitment puts Onboard Dynamics on track to become a financially sustainable provider of affordable CNG refueling solutions. Over the next 18 months we will complete development, testing and market introduction of our first products.
—Rita Hansen, CEO of Onboard Dynamics
The lack of fueling stations nationally has inhibited the widespread adoption of CNG vehicles. There are only 1,600 CNG fueling stations nationwide, but 72 million customer natural gas sites.
ObDI’s patent-pending technology is based on incorporating the natural gas compression function into one or more of the engine’s cylinders by designing it to be a dual purpose cylinder—compression and combustion.
Onboard Dynamics’ technology uses the automotive engine’s own power to compress natural gas during the refueling process, which would open up the existing natural gas distribution system to CNG vehicles.
Onboard Dynamics previously received funding support from ARPA-E, ONAMI, Oregon BEST, Oregon State University, and the Portland Seed Fund, Oregon’s most active venture capital fund, among other strategic partners and private investors.
Based in Oregon, the company was founded in 2013 to commercialize and further develop technology licensed from Oregon State University, and originally conceived by OSU - Cascades assistant professor, Chris Hagen.
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