KLD Energy Technologies

Based in Austin, Texas, KLD Energy Technologies was established to engineer and commercialize high-performance electric motor systems. The company was founded in 2007 by Christian Okonsky, a prolific inventor who previously worked on engineering Dell's first notebook computer. Okonsky, who holds over two dozen patents, partnered with Ray Caamano, the inventor of the company's core green energy technology, to form KLD. Caamano, the Chief Science Officer, has been developing electric propulsion systems since the 1980s.

KLD Energy Technologies developed an integrated electric drive system, branded as oneDRIVE™, which includes a motor, battery pack, and controller. This system's design aimed to redefine performance in electric propulsion. A key feature of the motor is its external rotor, internal stator design, which utilizes patented, modular "stator blocks." This configuration allows for scalability to different power outputs by simply adding more blocks, a design intended to lower costs and simplify serviceability for various applications. The system operates at high frequencies and low voltage, eliminating the need for a traditional transmission and enabling high torque at low RPM. This technology was designed to reduce the reliance on rare-earth magnets by as much as 60 percent.

The company's business model focused on providing this turnkey propulsion system to original equipment manufacturers. Initial target markets included two- and four-wheeled electric vehicles, with customers in Asia and Europe. Beyond light electric vehicles, the technology's scalable nature made it applicable to a broad range of industries, including elevators, industrial pumps, and wind turbines. The company followed a regionalized contract manufacturing model, performing pilot production in-house before outsourcing to manufacturers around the world. KLD established partnerships with companies like Samsung SDI for lithium-ion battery cells, Cenntro Motors for light-duty vehicles, and EcLimo in Malaysia for electric scooters. The company's work was recognized with a Bronze Edison Award in 2012 for energy sustainability in transportation.

Keywords: electric motor systems, electric vehicle propulsion, sustainable propulsion, direct drive motor, high-torque motor, external rotor motor, modular stator, powertrain technology, Ray Caamano, Christian Okonsky, oneDRIVE system, clean technology, electric drive system, EV components, traction motor, low-voltage motor, Cenntro Motors, sustainable energy, energy efficiency, propulsion technology, transportation tech, mobility solutions, EV drivetrain