Onboard Dynamics

Unique, Patented Natural Gas Compression Technology for Driving Down Emissions

Jason Vosburgh

Onboard Dynamics Launches the GoVAC™ Flex to Reduce Fugitive Methane Releases

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BEND, OR June 15, 2021 – Onboard Dynamics has responded to the critical need to reduce methane releases into the atmosphere with their latest product launch of the GoVAC™ Flex. This simple, mobile, fully integrated solution will provide operators of natural gas pipelines a tool to safely minimize their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during routine pipeline maintenance.

As part of the product validation process with actual pipeline operators, successful pipeline evacuation projects have been held at utility companies in Oregon, California, and Nevada. The GoVAC Flex will be a key contributor to the mission of these companies in finding innovative clean natural gas solutions that are crucial to reducing GHG emissions while providing an affordable and sustainable energy future.

The GoVAC Flex is self-contained and fueled solely by a small amount of the natural gas that is being recovered during the evacuation process. It can draw a pipeline down to near zero psig and transfer the gas into an adjoining line at any pressure or compress the gas up to 3600 psi into a tube trailer for transport to another pipeline or end use location.

“We developed the GoVAC Flex to help our customers reach their critical goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Rita Hansen, CEO of Onboard Dynamics. “We’re excited to launch this new product and demonstrate our leadership in the clean energy technology marketplace.”

The GoVAC Flex is small enough to be pulled by a half-ton pickup making it easy to transport to and maneuver around a job site. Despite its small size, it can evacuate a pipeline in less time than other approaches that require multiple pieces of equipment. Because it operates on clean natural gas, a pipeline evacuation operation utilizing the GoVAC Flex emits less GHG emissions than products that use a diesel-powered air compressor.

Founded in 2013, Onboard Dynamics is leading the climate-tech revolution with its unique, patented, mobile, and modular technology platform to responsibly manage and use natural gas. The innovative products based on this platform enable customers to achieve economic value and environmental benefits by simplifying the compression and transfer of natural gas. Whether deployed at a remote pipeline job site, in an oil or gas production field, at a dairy renewable methane recovery project, or at a fleet yard hosting clean natural gas vehicles, its products can compress natural gas or renewable natural gas from any source for convenient transfer via pipeline or high-pressure tanks for environmentally effective use. And there is never a need for an external electrical power source or diesel for operation. For more information, visit ObDI media coverage or connect on Twitter (@OnboardDynamics), Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Onboard Dynamics Presentation at The Energy Venture Investment Summit

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The virtual event was presented by Enercom and Colorado School of Mines and featured an array of emerging energy technologies and alternative energy start-up ventures. It took place on February 10 – 11th, 2020. Our CEO, Rita Hansen, shared our solutions for cutting down emissions for natural gas pipeline operations.

During this presentation, Rita highlighted Onboard Dynamics’ latest product, the GoVac, which provides a unique solution for evacuating natural gas pipelines and compressing the gas into a tube trailer for refueling, or for injecting natural gas into an adjoining pipeline. 

GHG emission reduction has a world focus and Onboard Dynamics offers smart technologies to transition to clean energy through practical, scalable, and economical solutions in the natural gas industry. 

Download the presentation>>

Onboard Dynamics wins the 2020 Luis Villalobos Award

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Onboard Dynamics wins Luis Villalobos Award

2020 Luis Villalobos Award Technology Winner: Onboard Dynamics

Onboard Dynamics has developed innovative natural gas compression technology allowing a low-pressure natural gas source to be compressed up to 3600 psi – all integrated within an engine platform. It runs on natural gas to compress natural gas without the need for electricity. The first product to market is the GoFlo® CNG-80 natural gas compressor launched in 2018.

In addition to “no electricity required”, this product brings many other benefits to their target customers with its mobility, scalability, and ease of installation and deployment. The applications are many within the different verticals in the industry.

And, they are witnessing a significant demand and interest in the international arena. Not only with increased adoption of natural gas as a transportation fuel but also in the transport of natural gas via various methods.

There is also a huge opportunity with tackling flared and/or stranded gas for smaller wells in remote areas. The system can be used to convert conditioned gas into compressed natural gas to fill tube trailers for transport and/or refueling locally.

How Award Winners are Chosen

Companies are nominated by ACA members to participate in this prestigious award.

The Luis Villalobos Award recognizes the most ingenious and innovative ideas recently financed by members of the Angel Capital Association. Two category winners are selected to attend the ACA Summit and honored live and throughout the event. The award is presented to the winning CEOs during the annual awards ceremony at the ACA Summit. Companies in all investment sectors are invited to participate and will be considered for one of two Category Winner opportunities. The categories are:

  • Technology, Services, & Consumer: (Hardware & Software, Social Media, Web 2.0., Fintech, AgTech, etc.)
  • Life Sciences (Pharma, Med devices, HealthCare IT, Digital or Mobile Health, etc.)

The award is open to companies that have received funding from an ACA member / angel group are in operation when the application is submitted. 

Both the ACA member / group and company complete a short nomination form and is complete when both are received by the ACA nomination committee.

Learn more about the award here: https://www.angelcapitalassociation.org/luis-villalobos-award/#LVWinners

Onboard Dynamics at Fuel 2020

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Fuel 2020 Logo

Fuel 2020, hosted by VertueLab, is the Pacific Northwest’s premier cleantech summit. This year’s virtual event took place from September 9th to 25th and featured short daily sessions that attendees could participate in. The sessions ranged from fireside chats, hot-seats, panels, and networking circles.

September 9th, 2020 Rita Hansen, CEO of Onboard Dynamics, shared our story of what an equitable, sustainable future looks like from her perspective, and where Onboard Dynamics products and services fit into that future. 

“This invitation really validates the work we are doing to transition to a cleaner, global energy footprint,” said Rita Hansen, CEO of Onboard Dynamics. “I believe that a solid, reasonable transition plan is what is necessary for society to embrace and fully commit to in order for us to get from here to there.” 

Watch our video from this event to learn about our vision of how Onboard Dynamics is helping to provide a more sustainable future to combat climate change through our CNG and RNG solutions. 

About Fuel 2020

For 11 years VertueLab has brought together a community of future-focused leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors at an annual summit to fund, fuel, and catalyze solutions for climate change. 

Learn more about the event here >>https://vertuelab.org/fuel-2020/ 

Onboard Dynamics Announces Instant Refueling for CNG Fleets

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Bend, OR. August 12th, 2020 – Onboard Dynamics announces the launch of their new GoFill™ refueling system. It is an instant and nimble drying and dispensing unit for refueling compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles. The new product eliminates infrastructure barriers for fleet operators who immediately need an easy CNG station setup to refuel their commercial trucks.

GoFill natural gas refueler by Onboard Dynamics

The first unit rolled out in Oregon, as part of the NW Natural’s free truck loan program. The GoFill will be providing natural gas for refueling CNG into a Hyliion low-emission Class 8 truck for long and heavy hauls. The program provides fleet operators a short-term, no-cost demo period to experience the vehicle. The on-site, easy station set-up makes fueling convenient during the demo period.

“We designed the GoFill as a companion to the GoFlo® compressor to create a CNG-in-a-day solution,” said Rita Hansen, CEO of Onboard Dynamics. “We’re excited to roll out our new product for NW Natural’s truck loan program and help contribute to the adoption of natural gas vehicles.”

The versatile design makes the GoFill a temporary or permanent installation. When paired with Onboard Dynamics’ natural gas compressor, the GoFlo, an instant fueling station can be set up that doesn’t require electricity to operate. This makes rapid deployment possible in locations where infrastructure is challenging.

“The GoFill is a crucial part of our truck loan program because it gives new natural gas fleet operators easy access to refueling while they test the trucks, and without fueling roadblocks to worry about,” said Chris Kroeker, NW Natural product manager of natural gas vehicles.

The new GoFill, when packaged with the GoFlo compressor, gives operators everything they need to begin converting their fleet to natural or renewable natural gas. It provides an easy-to-setup and take-down CNG fueling station that will create new opportunities for expanding CNG fleets or to quickly provide a fueling station for ad hoc projects.

The GoFlo compressor and the GoFill refueler

About Onboard Dynamics, Inc.

Founded in 2013, Onboard Dynamics is helping lead the clean fuel revolution with the introduction of its GoFlo® CNG80 natural gas compressor. This mobile platform enables fleet managers and others to lower their fuel costs and carbon emission profiles by simplifying the compression of natural gas. Whether it’s in the field, or at the fleet yard, the GoFlo® mobile compressor can accept any low-pressure natural gas or a renewable natural gas source and compress it for use as a cost-effective, clean fuel for vehicles or means of transport. For more, visit ObDI media coverage or connect on Twitter (@OnboardDynamics), Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Onboard Dynamics selected as a semi-finalist in ARPA-E’s $75m scaleup funding opportunity.

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Onboard Dynamics, Inc. initially spun out of a concept that originated at Oregon State University and was funded by Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) to address the critical lack of infrastructure to refuel natural gas vehicles. The company developed innovative natural gas compression technology allowing a low-pressure natural gas source to be compressed up to 3600 PSI within an engine platform that runs on natural gas to compress natural gas without the need for electricity. 

Their commercialized GoFlo® compressor provides critical, smaller, and more flexible compression solutions for use in the natural gas and renewable natural gas (RNG) industries. Since it does not require electricity, this natural gas-powered system lowers installation and operating costs, facilitates easy mobility and redeployment, and maximizes operating resiliency. In addition, the novel, mobile compressor technology enables natural gas utilities to perform critical pipeline maintenance in their efforts to address methane leakage.

Onboard Dynamics SEMI-FINALISTS SELECTED FOR THE ARPA-E $75M SCALEUP FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
The GoFlo® Natural Gas Compressor

As a former successful ARPA-E awardee, Onboard Dynamics was encouraged to apply to the ARPA-E SCALEUP $75M funding opportunity (FOA) – a new program launched this year by ARPA-E intended to build on their primary R&D focus and to support the scaling of high-risk and potentially disruptive new technologies across the full spectrum of energy applications.

The company’s preliminary application was one of 32 selected (out of >200 submissions) to move to the Full Application phase.  There is a presentation that outlines more information about this FOA and the company’s proposed technology titled “SELF-CONTAINED METHANE TREATMENT & COMPRESSION SYSTEM” which will combine raw gas clean-up and conditioning with the core GoFlo compression technology.

Contact Rita Hansen, CEO, Onboard Dynamics to get access to the presentation that goes with the application.
Email: rita.hansen@onboarddynamics.com
Phone: 541-550-3632 x700

This step of the FOA process requires additional levels of technical, market, and financial model details as well as identifying and securing commercial and financial partner(s) who will actively support field demonstration of the technology and provide financial support.

There is a lot of work to accomplish between now and September 25th when the Full Application is due, but this award is a big opportunity for a small business like Onboard Dynamics because it only requires 20% cost share. In addition, the cost share does not start until the 2nd year of the 3-year program. 

On August 11th, Rita presented at Day 1 of the two-day Virtual SCALEUP Workshop to interested commercial and financial partners. Any potential commercial and/or financial partner can register here for funding details.

Watch this video of ARPA-E Technology-to-Market team leaders James Zahler and Mary Yamada talk about the upcoming SCALEUP Virtual Workshop Series, on August 11 & 12.