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NovaTorque

NovaTorque

Sunnyvale, Calif.
Electric motors
Founder and CTO: John Petro, 57

NovaTorque has developed a patented electric motor technology that it says is 10% to 30% more efficient than conventional electric motors. Motors account for about half of all electric energy consumption, so even small efficiency improvements could save tens of billions annually in energy costs. NovaTorque motors have a unique conical structure that the company says are more compact and run cooler than conventional motors.