ISE Corporation

ISE Corporation was founded in January 1995{{cite web |url=http://www.isecorp.com/ise_company_info/about_ise/ |title=About ISE |archive-date=July 13, 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060713214410/http://www.isecorp.com/ise_company_info/about_ise/ |url-status=dead}} by David M. Mazaika and Michael C. Simon, engineers who had formerly worked for General Dynamics.{{cite interview |url=http://tmxmoney.com/en/news/interviews/Mar22-2010_ISE.html |title=ISE Limited: Powering the green movement in a growing market |subject=Richard Sander |interviewer=Jordan Luy |date=March 22, 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224141534/http://tmxmoney.com/en/news/interviews/Mar22-2010_ISE.html |archive-date=December 24, 2010 |url-status=dead |website=TMX Money}} The company's initial funding came from a research grant provided by the South Coast Air Quality Management District to develop and test hybrid electric vehicles and vehicle components.{{cite web |url=http://www.isecorp.com/ise_company_info/about_ise/company-history.php |title=About ISE: Company History |archive-date=October 16, 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061016150039/http://www.isecorp.com/ise_company_info/about_ise/company-history.php |url-status=dead}} ISE entered a strategic partnership with Siemens in 2002, where ISE would use the Siemens ELFA traction motor, inverter, and generator in its series hybrid drivetrain systems for the United States.{{cite press release |url=http://www.isecorp.com/ise_news/ise_press_releases/sep-23-2002-siemens-agreement.php |title=ISE Research-ThunderVolt and Siemens Enter into Strategic Marketing Agreement Targeting U.S. Hybrid-Electric Bus Industry |date=September 23, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026222350/http://www.isecorp.com/ise_news/ise_press_releases/sep-23-2002-siemens-agreement.php |archive-date=October 26, 2006 |url-status=dead}}

ISE started as an integrator, refitting vehicles with hybrid electric or electric power, including transit buses, tow tractors, and trucks. In the first quarter of 2005, ISE moved from San Diego to Poway.{{cite web |url=http://www.isecorp.com/ise_company_info/about_ise/corporate-structure.php |title=About ISE: Corporate Profile |publisher=ISE Corporation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060312204140/http://www.isecorp.com/ise_company_info/about_ise/corporate-structure.php |archive-date=March 12, 2006 |url-status=dead}}

After it declared bankruptcy in 2010, ISE sold its assets at auction to Bluways USA in February 2011 for $3.76 million.{{cite news |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-bankrupt-ise-sells-assets-to-bluways-2011feb23-story.html |title=Bankrupt ISE sells assets to Bluways |author=Freeman, Mike |date=February 23, 2011 |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune |access-date=4 February 2021}}

ISE Corporation had two divisions: the first, simply named ISE, supported space exploration by designing micro-rover vehicles for developing and testing space system software. The second, ISE Research, was dedicated to developing hybrid electric powertrains for heavy-duty transportation applications (Class 6 and up trucks, tow tractors, transit buses). In total, ISE shipped approximately 300 hybrid electric drivetrain systems.

File:AC Transit 4285 Fuel Cell PICT0111 (12193010834).jpg E-Z Rider with hydrogen fuel cell APU, in test service with AC Transit (c.2002)]]

ISE Research used the brand ThunderVolt to refer to the series hybrid drivetrains it had developed. The drivetrain included the traction motor(s) and controllers (branded ELFA, provided by Siemens), an energy storage system (battery, charger, and management; or ultracapacitor), auxiliary power unit (APU, to generate electric power for the traction motor and energy storage systems), and hybrid system controllers.{{cite web |url=http://www.isecorp.com/tvolt_drivetrains.htm |title=ThunderVolt Drive Systems |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010220182154/http://www.isecorp.com/tvolt_drivetrains.htm |publisher=ISE Research Corporation |archive-date=February 20, 2001 |url-status=dead}} As integrated into a mid-size (30') ElDorado National E-Z Rider transit bus, APU options included conventional piston engines (General Motors V8 or Cummins 5.9L), using diesel, gasoline, propane, or compressed natural gas;{{cite web |url=http://www.isecorp.com/spec_30_foot.htm |title=30 foot transit bus TB30-H |publisher=ISE Research Corporation |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010221045237/http://www.isecorp.com/spec_30_foot.htm |archive-date=February 21, 2001 |url-status=dead}} Capstone gas turbine;{{cite web |url=http://www.isecorp.com/spec_30_foot_THV.htm |title=30 foot transit bus TB30-HT |publisher=ISE Research Corporation |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010222050445/http://www.isecorp.com/spec_30_foot_THV.htm |archive-date=February 22, 2001 |url-status=dead}} and hydrogen fuel cell.{{cite web |url=http://www.isecorp.com/spec_30_foot_FCV.htm |title=30 foot transit bus TB30-FCH |publisher=ISE Research Corporation |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010309080927/http://www.isecorp.com/spec_30_foot_FCV.htm |archive-date=March 9, 2001 |url-status=dead}}

ISE introduced the Hybrid Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (HHICE) variant of the ThunderVolt in 2005. The HHICE bus used a Ford Triton V10 gasoline engine that had been converted to burn hydrogen, coupled with an electric generator as the APU for the series hybrid system; it was first tested by SunLine Transit Agency.{{cite press release |url=https://www.altenergymag.com/news/2005/01/02/ise-delivers-first-hybrid-hydrogen-internal-combustion-engine-bus-to-sunline-transit/2929/ |title=ISE Delivers First Hybrid Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Bus to SunLine Transit |date=January 2, 2005 |publisher=AltEnergyMag |access-date=8 February 2021}} During revenue service with SunLine, the HHICE engine overheated twice and caught fire once in three separate incidents in 2007.{{cite report |url=https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2014/03/f10/43741-1.pdf |title=sunLine Transit Agency Hydrogen-Powered Transit Buses: Third Evaluation Report |author1=Chandler, Kevin |author2=Eudy, Leslie |date=June 2008 |publisher=National Renewable Energy Laboratory |access-date=8 February 2021}}{{rp|8}} Transport for London ordered ten hydrogen-powered buses from ISE in 2007, split equally as five fuel cell and five HHICE APU buses.{{cite news |url=https://www.greencarcongress.com/2007/11/tfl-orders-10-h.html |title=TfL Orders 10 Hydrogen Buses from ISE |date=November 13, 2007 |work=Green Car Congress |access-date=8 February 2021}}

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Selected users of transit buses equipped with ISE hybrid drivetrains included:

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• {{cite web |url=http://www.isecorp.com/ |title=Home Page |publisher=ISE Corporation |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19990208014040/http://www.isecorp.com/ |archive-date=February 8, 1999 |url-status=dead}}

Category:Defunct companies based in California