November 2011

What compels an engineer, business leader, strategist, to leave the corporate world after more than 30 years to become an entrepreneur?  If you ask Milton Roye, President  & CEO of ENRG Power Systems LLC, he’ll tell you that he has been an entrepreneur throughout his professional life.  “I am a mechanical engineer who is good at working with diverse groups and solving problems, so I guess that makes me an engineer with personality,” says Roye.  “I have been fortunate to have held executive positions in global auto-related companies, focusing on improving the understanding of customer requirements, developing new products and services and creating closely-aligned work teams across geographies and cultures. It’s as if I was an ‘intrapreneur’, an entrepreneur within a corporate culture.”  A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard Business School, he has throughout his career established a track record of successfully repositioning and growing companies.

In 2008, he was approached by a fellow member of the MIT Board of Directors about whether the multi-billion dollar global corporation he was working for at the time, would be interested in a technology that had the potential to transform the spark ignition system in vehicles; a system that hadn’t changed in the last 50 to 60 years.  “Fortunately, my former company was going through a restructuring at the time and was not interested but I believed that this was a product that could be the ignition source for the future,” states Roye.  “Every other part of a vehicle had integrated new technology except the spark ignition system.  So in 2009, I launched my own effort to commercialize the next generation of the spark ignition system – the plasma ignition – and created ENRG Power Systems LLC.” 

The ENRG Power System™ plasma ignition improves spark ignition engine (gasoline, CNG and LPG-fuels) truck and van fuel economy by up to 21%, using an easy-to-retrofit system that reduces operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions.  “Unlike a spark ignition that initiates combustion in a localized area, plasma ignition generates extremely fast energy pulses to combust a large portion of the fuel/air mixture and the result is a leaner burn and higher combustion efficiency,” explains Roye.  “Plasma ignition system technology has been proven to dramatically improve efficiency by leading national research labs and by my partner in military and industrial applications. We are now adapting it to an automotive application.  It is the ignition source for the future and we are the first to market a commercially viable system that is vehicle compatible.” 

ENRG Power System LLC is targeting commercial fleets, specifically medium and light-duty trucks and vans with V-8 engines.  “Our system is technically an aftermarket product that can be installed in about 2 ½ hours on gasoline-engine fleet vehicles getting 3.5 – 14 mpg,” says Roye.  “With an annual fuel savings of $1,000 – $5,000 per vehicle, focusing of fleet operations – where the potential for savings is substantial – makes the most sense.”

Despite having an impressive business background, Roye sought out and took advantage of the expertise of Michigan service providers.  He enrolled in Detroit’s TechTown SmartStart program, where he received the mentoring and coaching necessary to develop a business plan to take to investors.  “Through my involvement with Tech Town, I connected with the Michigan Small Business Technology Development Center (SBTDC) network,” says Roye.  “I had applied for the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition and the SBTDC seriously helped me refine my pitch and improve my presentation.”  Roye doesn’t hesitate to credit both TechTown and the SBTDC tech team for the success he’s had to date.  With SBTDC help, ENRG Power Systems was the first two-time award winner in the Accelerate Michigan Competition, the first time in 2010 and again in 2011.  “This would not have happened without the SBTDC team,” acknowledges Roye.  “Their coaching and professionalism were invaluable and their support was instrumental in helping improve our value proposition.” 

Roye was also invited to participate in the 2011 Cleantech Open, the world’s largest clean technology competition and technology incubator.  “John Balbach, one of the SBTDC tech consultants, was a tremendous resource in preparing us for the Cleantech Open competition,” explains Roye.  “With John’s help, ENRG Power Systems became a national semi-finalist in the competition and placed in the top eight in the regional finals.”

ENRG Power Systems is poised for growth.  The company is finalizing agreements with several commercial fleets and municipalities to evaluate its system.  “Our goal is to have at least ten major customers by the end of first quarter 2012,” Roye states.  “Our product has generated significant interest and the opportunity is there to begin work on the next generation of our technology. This is a product whose time has come.”  Roye added that ENRG Power is currently on the lookout for two to three more ‘first adopters’ to assess its technology.  For more information, visit www.ENRGPower.com.