EnerDel, Inc., a provider of lithium-ion battery storage systems for grid energy, transportation and industrial applications, announced that it recently appointed David Roberts as chief executive officer (CEO). Roberts joined EnerDel in January 2011 as deputy general counsel and chief IP counsel.
As part of its parent company’s restructuring plan, which took the company private at the end of March 2012, EnerDel has also hired Richard Quirin as its new chief financial officer (CFO) and bolstered its management team to grow and expand its business. Prior to joining EnerDel, Quirin was CFO at IMMI based in Westfield, Ind. He is a certified public accountant (CPA) and has more than 35 years experience for companies like Rockwell and Rolls-Royce/Allison Engines.
In addition to a new CEO and CFO, the company has also moved several of its executives into expanded roles as group directors within the company, including: Robert Kamischke (U.S. cell manufacturing); Sean Hendrix (chief of engineering); Dave Hahn (program management, grid energy); David Osborne (program management, transportation); Vitaliy Pereverzev (sales and marketing); Tomasz Poznar (service); Mike Alma (Asia and global procurement); Trent Scott (human resources); Brian Sinderson (communications and external affairs); and, Steve Wirtz (quality and document control).
"We now have a strong management team in place to help support the needs of our current customers like Federal Grid Company, Portland General Electric, Toro, Lightning Motors and Volvo," stated CEO Dave Roberts. "Solidifying our management team has been a critical first step in helping us regain our leadership role in the advanced battery industry. This group – and the entire EnerDel team -- will be diligently working to secure new business to support the growth objectives that are integral to our revised corporate strategy."
In addition to EnerDel’s current customers, it has re-focused its efforts to develop advanced lithium-ion battery storage solutions for medium- and heavy-duty transportation (buses, trucks, rail and other mass transit applications), grid energy storage (bulk energy storage, residential and community energy storage, and UPS back-up for mission critical applications), and industrial, task-specific applications.
"While electric passenger vehicle sales have been slower to develop for several reasons, we are encouraged by the interest in grid energy storage and medium and heavy-duty transportation applications. Our sales efforts are focused on these areas, because they represent markets experiencing stronger growth and where we have proven experience," continued Roberts. "After an extensive strategic planning effort, we believe we have a solid blueprint to provide customers with a line-up of production-ready energy storage solutions to meet their needs."
EnerDel has also moved ahead in its joint venture (JV) with Wanxiang Group, which is the largest tier-one automotive parts supplier in China. Wanxiang Group’s customers include SAIC, Changan, Haima, FAW, Dongfeng, Chongqing Chang’an (Suzuki) and Yutong (the world’s second-largest bus maker) and Hangzhou State Grid among others. The company is also the second-largest stakeholder in Guangzhou Automobile, China’s most profitable domestic car company, which also has joint venture partnerships that include Honda, Toyota and Fiat. The JV recently received its business license by the Chinese government to design, manufacture, sell, distribute and provide service for lithium-ion battery cells and packs for the transportation and grid energy storage sectors in China. EnerDel has a 40 percent stake in the joint venture.
EnerDel has also consolidated its manufacturing facilities in the U.S. to two locations in the Indianapolis area, which was initiated when the company leased manufacturing space in Greenfield, Indiana. The company’s corporate headquarters has also relocated to Indiana.
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