ElectroJet

This summer’s Beijing Olympics celebrated athletic achievement from around the world and swimmer Michael Phelps was the star of the show with his history making gold medal run. Phelps training ground was in Ann Arbor, just down the road from an innovative Michigan business that also was looking to make a splash at the Olympics.

Brighton-based ElectroJet brought its unique new fuel injection system across the ocean to partner with the official motorcycle of the Beijing Olympics, Guangzhou Dayang. ElectroJet has developed a unique low-cost solution for reducing pollution, improving fuel economy and engine performance of recreational vehicles, lawn mowers and motorcycles. According to ElectroJet CEO and founder Kyle Schwulst, the small engine system will reduce emissions 65 percent while boosting fuel efficiency 12 percent. With motorbikes replacing bicycles in emerging markets like China and India, reducing emissions could potentially help fight pollution. “The exposure related to Olympic sponsorship was an attempt to get our brand name more recognizable in China,” said Schwulst. At the last minute the Chinese government decided to go with a more powerful motorcycle. While ElectroJet lost its global audience in the short term, the 29 year-old Schwulst says there are many long term opportunities in an expanding global market. China and India currently manufacture in excess of 30 million motorcycles per year, contributing to significant air quality issues in the region. ElectroJet claims they can help address those issues with cleaner products that consume less energy without sacrificing performance and acceleration.

Kettering University graduate Kyle Schwulst founded ElectroJet in 2003 after achieving the first of many patents to reduce the sensor set and cost of electronic engine controls. The genesis of the company started with a small group of friends working out of a Whitmore Lake pole barn. With projected sales of $500 million in the next 5 years, ElectroJet recently moved out of the barn and into a new research facility in Brighton. Schwulst credits Michigan's 21st Century Jobs Fund investment of $962,000 million to take his small start-up to the next level. "It was absolutely critical in terms of scaling up to a global market."

Schwulst hopes to add another 15 employees in 2009 to his current workforce of nine. “The reason the company is here is because of the workforce,” said Schwulst. “The talent I can find here is pretty much unrivaled on a global basis.” New clean air standards are scheduled to be implemented in China and India next year and ElectroJet is positioning itself to help manufactures meet those new regulations with an innovative Michigan product designed for the global marketplace.