Fallbrook Technologies Inc. • Cedar Park
Fallbrook Technologies Inc. • Cedar Park
By Christi Covington Friday, 20 March 2009
When professional surfer Don Miller realized his love for riding the waves was probably not his best option for making a living, he decided to get into real estate and, in his free time, build the world’s fastest bike.
It was an endeavor that would eventually become the foundation for Fallbrook Technologies Inc., a Cedar Park business that is expected to expand its research and development in energy transmissions.
“We’re going to grow. It’s a matter of when, not if,” said Rob Smithson, vice president of product development.
The company, which opened under its current name in 2004, is California-based. About 40 of its 50 employees work in the Cedar Park research and design office. Their product is manufactured in Kentucky and then sold largely in Europe on commuter bicycles. It is also available in North America through www.costco.com and independent bike shops on a custom order basis.
Fallbrook products are based on the initial invention Miller created while building his bike in his apartment. Most bicycles have a kick or stutter when the gear is changed. To prevent the delay, Miller wanted to use a Continuously Variable Transmission, but could not find one that was viable. So he decided to invent his own.
That was around 1998. By 2002, he brought his CVT to the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio where he met Smithson.
“The first thing I thought was, ‘I’ll be darn. Why did we not come up with this?’” Smithson said.
The new CVT, called the NuVinci CVP, can be used for electric and gas vehicles and pedal-assist bicycles to make them smoother and faster. Smithson said one employee who commutes from FM 1431 to the office cuts his ride from an hour of travel time to around 20 minutes using a bike equipped with the NuVinci Developer’s Kit.
Smithson said as fuel-efficient vehicles have become increasingly more important, Fallbrook’s transmission technology has the opportunity to improve the speed, comfort and hill-climbing ability of anything from scooters to lawn mowers to hybrid cars.
“What were once high-end toys can be an affordable form of commuter transportation,” he said.
A new offshoot company, Viryd Technologies Inc., is also using Fallbrook’s technology to develop wind turbines small, efficient and affordable enough to be used for individual homes. Smithson said the growth of this venture is poised to boom with rising interest in renewable energy.
Spheres — not gears
The NuVinci CVP uses spheres, not gears, to create a smooth ride. Instead of turning gears with a click, the inchworm design of the NuVinci streamlines the transition.
The NuVinci transmission uses a set of rotating balls between the input and output components of a transmission that tilt and vary the output speed of the transmission. Tilting the balls changes their contact diameters with the discs, which varies speed.
Fallbrook Technologies Inc., 505 Cypress Creek Road, 279-6200, www.fallbrooktech.com
