WALTHAM, Mass., Aug. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Tecogen^® Inc. (NASDAQ: TGEN), a leading provider of clean energy products which, through patented technology, nearly eliminate criteria pollutants and significantly reduce a customer's carbon footprint, today announced joint venture affiliate Ultra Emissions Technologies Ltd. ('ULTRATEK') is slated to begin Phase 2 testing and development of the Ultera emissions control technology for gasoline vehicles. The new phase of testing will be well supported by ULTRATEK's $6.2 million in cash on hand following the recently announced second round funding; to date ULTRATEK has raised a total of $7.0 million in support of development efforts.

"Results from initial Phase 1 testing of Ultera on a light duty vehicle at AVL's California Technology Center have now been thoroughly analyzed. The data indicate the patented emissions control system is highly effective at delivering further emissions reduction in criteria pollutants that contribute to smog and are harmful human health hazards beyond what is achieved by currently available commercial technology," said Robert Panora, ULTRATEK Co-CEO and Tecogen President and COO.

Phase 2 testing and development, slated to begin later this month, will also be performed at AVL's vehicle test cell. The second round testing will utilize a more refined design of the Ultera prototype system and will include two gasoline powered vehicle models, one certified for both domestic and European use while the other has certification for European markets only. These models were selected as representing very advanced, high-mileage vehicles for which the ULTRATEK team's industry assessment indicates are vehicle types of high importance but with inherent emissions challenges.

"After a review of the public data and scientific literature, we are seeing evidence that more advanced, high power-density engines have significant emissions difficulties. These may be particularly problematic in harder driving conditions, outside the narrow parameters of the standardized certification testing. Phase 2 testing will focus on these types of vehicles in an effort to perfect the emissions control process for automotive application and collect needed data for continued development work," Mr. Panora added.

Phase 1 testing (detailed here) focused on simulated driving cycles prescribed by federal regulations for vehicle certification. In these tests, criteria pollutants (those contributing to smog and negatively impacting human health) were reduced in all simulated drive conditions, vastly improving emissions performance when compared to currently available emissions control technologies. Ultera benefits were particularly effective during aggressive driving conditions which are not well represented in the standard tests cycles.

Notably, given the continuing emphasis on improving the fuel economy of passenger vehicles in order to reduce carbon emissions (CO₂), over more than 60 test runs of various standard drive cycles, it was conclusive that miles per gallon was not negatively impacted. Consistent with the experience of the Ultera system in stationary industrial applications, the Ultera system did not increase the fuel usage of the vehicle.

About Ultra Emissions Technologies Ltd.
Ultra Emissions Technologies Ltd, known as ULTRATEK, is a 50/50 joint venture company formed in December 2015 and incorporated in the Island of Jersey, Channel Islands. The company's mission is to develop and adapt Tecogen's patented Ultera ultra-low emissions control technology for the gasoline transportation markets. ULTRATEK maintains the exclusive licensing rights to the Ultera technology for the global vehicle market. The company is funded by a group of Strategic Investors and staffed by an expert team of engineers and consultants.

About Tecogen
Tecogen^® Inc. designs, manufactures, sells, installs, and maintains high efficiency, ultra-clean, cogeneration products including natural gas engine-driven combined heat and power, air conditioning systems, and high-efficiency water heaters for residential, commercial, recreational and industrial use. The company is known for cost efficient, environmentally friendly and reliable products for energy production that, through patented technology, nearly eliminate criteria pollutants and significantly reduce a customer's carbon footprint.

In business for over 20 years, Tecogen has shipped more than 2,300 units, supported by an established network of engineering, sales, and service personnel across the United States. For more information, please visit www.tecogen.com  or contact us for a free Site Assessment.  

Tecogen, InVerde, Ilios, Tecochill, Ultera, and e⁺, are registered trademarks or trademark pending registration of Tecogen Inc.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, as disclosed on the Company's website and in Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, even if subsequently made available by the Company on its website or otherwise. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements provided to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

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SOURCE Tecogen Inc.