ECD History
1950s
The switch that started it all –
In the 1950s, Stanford R. Ovshinsky’s pioneering work in amorphous and disordered materials created a new world of chemistry, physics, and material science
1960s
Information – Evolution of amorphous semiconductor memories
Energy – From the beginning:
solar hydrogen and amorphous
and disordered materials
1970s
Materials to Products – the end products from ECD’s inventions
Imaging films
Amorphous solar cell is flexible and adaptable
1980s
Ultraviolet Ovonic solar modules
Ovonic shingles that can be easily installed on roofs, providing enough energy to supply electricity to homes and commercial installations
1982
Ovonic Battery Company was founded
Ovonic consumer NiMH batteries
1985
Optical phase-change memory
First commercial use
of Ovonic phase-change
optical recording technology
1990s
Ovonics EV and industrial NiMH cells
1992
ECD awarded the first USABC contract to develop EV batteries
1993
First application of Ovonic EV NiMH battery pack in Chrysler TE van
1996
Four-passenger car with Ovonic NiMH batteries wins Tour de Sol Race – 373 miles on a single charge
The continuous roll-to-roll 5MW plant designed and built by ECD
1997
Four-passenger car equipped with Ovonic NiMH batteries drives from Boston to New York City –
216 miles – on a single charge
Family of Ovonic Batteries introduced
Industry recognizes ECD phase-change technology
Building-Integrated
Photovoltaic (BIPV) Product
1998
United Solar ultralight photovoltaic material is installed on the MIR space station
First GM Ovonic NiMH batteries
are installed in EV1 electric
vehicles for lease customers
UNI-SOLAR® products covered by 20-year warranty
1999
High data density electric
memory using multi-bit storage
2000s
Intel invests in Ovonyx, Inc., and also has a non-exclusive license and provides personnel and fabrication facility in combined effort on Ovonic Unified Memory technology
GE Plastics and ECD announce strategic alliance and form a JV for optical media technology
Texaco purchases a 20% interest in ECD and forms joint ventures with ECD in regenerative fuel cells, hydrogen storage, and NiMH batteries
Ovonics NiMH batteries lead the American Tour de sol for the 7th consecutive year
2001
ECD listed on Frankfurt Stock Exchange
ECD expansion necessitates move to consolidated headquarters
2003
The 25MW Machine –
Auburn Hills One
2005
The 25MW Plant –
Auburn Hills Two
2006
President George W. Bush tours United Solar Ovonic Auburn Hills One
2007
The Greenville Plant
2009
ECD Acquires
Solar Integrated Technologies
