Aura Systems, Inc.

The applications for mobile electric power have been growing steadily over the last decade as advanced digital electronics penetrate all walks of life. Computers, digital sensors and instruments, control systems, automation, real time data collection /processing and other electronic components are steadily replacing less efficient tools and machines. Applications away from the grid line or on-the-move require a mobile source of electricity and, in particular, digital systems require pure sine wave AC power. More recently, global wide environmental concerns and awareness demand reduction in harmful emissions from internal combustion engines. It is accepted that the most promising near term solution is the use of electricity in the form of electric motors and generators.

Historically gensets, also known as APUs, have provided mobile power solutions. A gensets (APU) is a small internal combustion engine (ICE) that is the prime mover for a generator. The engine runs at constant speed of 3,600 or 1,800 RPM to generate 60 hertz AC power (1,500 or 3,000 RPM for 50 hertz). Such engines not only tend to be environmentally unfriendly, bulky, heavy, and noisy, but also derate with outside temperature and altitude, derate in the presence of harmonics in the load, and also require regular scheduled maintenance.