Vycon
Vycon is a privately held U.S. manufacturer of high-speed flywheel energy storage systems serving mission-critical data centers, healthcare facilities, electric rail operators, airports, and microgrids through enterprise sales and a global channel partner network. Its VDC and REGEN product lines replace or complement lead-acid batteries in UPS and regenerative braking applications.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersCerritos, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Vycon does
Vycon is a U.S.-based, privately held manufacturer of high-speed flywheel energy storage systems founded in 2002 and headquartered in Chino, California, with a regional headquarters and manufacturing facility in Shenyang, China. The company designs and builds kinetic energy storage products using patented active magnetic bearing levitation, permanent magnet motor generators operating up to 36,750 RPM in a vacuum, and bi-directional IGBT power converters achieving over 99.4% efficiency. Its product portfolio comprises two lines: the VDC (Direct Connect) family — including the 300kW VDC-XXE and 450kW VDC-XXT — for mission-critical UPS ride-through and backup power, and the REGEN family — including the 125kW modular system — for capturing regenerative braking energy in electric rail and stabilizing microgrid/renewable applications. Both lines are certified compatible with all major three-phase UPS brands (ABB/GE, Eaton, Mitsubishi, Riello UPS, Schneider Electric, Socomec, Vertiv).
Vycon sells primarily through enterprise field sales and a global channel of authorized distributors supported by more than 200 trained technicians available 24/7. Target verticals include data centers and colocation, healthcare facilities, electric rail and transit, airports, microgrids/renewables, casinos/hospitality, and broadcast/media. Pricing is quote-based at the enterprise level, with the company claiming $100,000–$200,000 in lifecycle cost savings per flywheel over a 20-year operational life versus 5-minute VRLA battery banks. Cumulative shipments reached 1,500 systems by October 2018, with the installed base having logged over 48.5 million operating hours and 22.3 million discharge/recharge cycles across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific (including China, SE Asia, India, Australia/NZ, Mexico, and the Philippines).
Revenue is generated through hardware sales of complete flywheel systems including the flywheel unit, power electronics, monitoring systems, and integration with UPS systems. The company has not publicly disclosed revenue, raised approximately $17.5 million across three disclosed funding rounds between 2009 and 2013, and operates with an estimated 51–100 employees. The leadership team is led by CEO & CFO Mark Zhang and President Frank DeLattre, and the company opened a new manufacturing plant in October 2024 to expand production capacity.
Vycon firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vycon
- Legal name
- VYCON Inc.
- Website
- https://vyconenergy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Vycon is a privately held U.S. manufacturer of high-speed flywheel energy storage systems serving mission-critical data centers, healthcare facilities, electric rail operators, airports, and microgrids through enterprise sales and a global channel partner network. Its VDC and REGEN product lines replace or complement lead-acid batteries in UPS and regenerative braking applications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vycon industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Flywheel Energy Storage Systems
- NAICS
- Mechanical Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (333613), Battery Manufacturing (33591)
- SIC
- Motors & Generators (3621)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Energy Storage Systems (BESS, Flywheels, Batteries) (HDABAKAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Mechanical LDES (Pumped Hydro, Compressed/Liquid Air, Flywheels) (EUAFADAB), UPS Batteries & Energy Storage Modules (HDACAJAE), Power Distribution & Switchgear (UPS, PDUs, Busway) (HDABAKAA)
Keywords
Where Vycon is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cerritos
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Vycon business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Flywheel Energy Storage Hardware Sales: VYCON generates revenue through the sale of flywheel energy storage systems including VDC (Direct Connect) products for backup power/UPS applications and REGEN products for regenerative energy applications in electric rail and microgrids. The company sells complete systems that include the flywheel unit, power electronics, monitoring systems and integration with UPS systems. Sales occur through direct engagement and channel partners.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Vycon product offering
Product offeringCore offering
VYCON designs, manufactures, and sells high-speed flywheel energy storage systems that store kinetic energy for backup power (VDC Direct Connect line) and regenerative energy capture (REGEN line). The systems use patented active magnetic bearings and permanent magnet motor generators to deliver instantaneous ride-through power for UPS applications in data centers, hospitals, and industrial facilities, and to capture and reuse regenerative braking energy in electric rail and microgrid applications. Complete systems include the flywheel unit, power electronics, monitoring interface, and integration with major three-phase UPS brands.
Product overview
VYCON offers two main flywheel energy storage product lines: VDC (Direct Connect) for backup power/UPS applications and REGEN for energy recycling in electric rail and microgrid applications. The VDC line includes the 300kW VDC-XXE and 450kW VDC-XXT models, both using patented high-speed motor generator technology with active magnetic bearings. The REGEN line features 125kW modular systems designed for electrified rail, capturing regenerative braking energy. Both product families share core patented technology including high-speed permanent magnet motor generators, magnetic bearings, and smart monitoring systems. The products are certified compatible with all major three-phase UPS brands including Mitsubishi, ABB/GE, Eaton, Schneider Electric, and Vertiv.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- VDC: Direct Connect flywheel energy storage systems for backup power and UPS applications, providing instantaneous and reliable power for mission-critical facilities including data centers, hospitals, and industrial operations.
- REGEN
Products and services
- VDC (Direct Connect) Flywheel Energy Storage System The VDC (Direct Connect) product line consists of flywheel energy storage systems that provide instantaneous and reliable backup power for mission-critical UPS applications. Compatible with all major brands of three-phase UPSs, the scalable VDC models ensure high-quality power 24x7 for data centers, hospitals, and industrial operations.
- VDC-XXE 300kW Flywheel System 300kW rated flywheel system providing clean ride-through backup power with over 99.4% efficiency. Features active magnetic levitation technology and 20-year life without major service interval. Targeted at data centers, healthcare imaging, and other mission-critical applications requiring reliable UPS ride-through.
- VDC-XXT 450kW Flywheel System 450kW flywheel system offering the highest power density in the industry, operating at temperatures up to 104°F (40°C) with a 20-year operational life. Housed in a 30" W x 30" D chassis. Designed for data centers, hospitals, and mission-critical applications requiring high power density and high temperature tolerance.
- REGEN Flywheel Energy Storage System Flywheel system for capturing and regenerating energy in electric rail, industrial, and distributed generation applications. Stores energy from regenerative braking and delivers it back during acceleration phases, repeating the cycle hundreds of times daily without degradation.
- REGEN 125kW Modular Flywheel System Modular flywheel system designed for electrified rail and subway systems with native 750 Vdc or 1500 Vdc motor generator providing bulk energy storage with high reliability and low life-cycle cost. Designed for 2-minute headway metro operation without compromising product life.
- REGEN for Rail (Wayside Energy Storage) Specialized flywheel system for metro rail applications, capturing regenerative braking energy and providing voltage support to supplement existing rail traction power substations. Deployed wayside at transit stations to reduce traction power consumption by up to 20%.
- REGEN Microgrid/Renewables Solution REGEN systems providing critical power conditioning for microgrids by absorbing frequent power fluctuations and protecting sensitive electronics against premature failure in harsh environments including remote areas, mining and oil fields, ships, and distant islands. Designed to reduce diesel generator fuel consumption and integrate renewable generation from solar.
Quantifiable outcome
- $100,000 to $200,000 cost savings per flywheel deployed vs. 5-minute VRLA battery bank over 20-year lifespan
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Vycon
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Vycon technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature6 records
Vycon partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core, minor and regional.
- Federal Transit Authority (FTA)strategicThe FTA funded the Los Angeles Metro Way Side Energy Storage System (WESS) project through the Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TRIGGER) Program as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. The project deployed VYCON REGEN technology at the Red Line subway Westlake/McArthur Park station.
- ABB/GEcoreABB/GE is a major three-phase UPS manufacturer that certifies and resells VYCON flywheel systems as part of integrated power protection solutions.
- EatoncoreEaton certifies and resells VYCON flywheel systems alongside their three-phase UPS product lines.
- MitsubishicoreMitsubishi Electric certifies VYCON flywheel systems for use with their three-phase UPS products including the 9900B and 9900C series.
- Riello UPScoreRiello UPS certifies and resells VYCON flywheel systems as compatible power protection solutions.
- Schneider ElectriccoreSchneider Electric certifies VYCON flywheel systems for integration with their three-phase UPS offerings.
- SocomeccoreSocomec certifies VYCON flywheel systems for use with their power protection product lines.
- VertivcoreVertiv (formerly Emerson Network Power) certifies and resells VYCON flywheel systems.
- ITS SolutionsminorITS Solutions is a local IT infrastructure expert that recommended VYCON flywheel systems to Cavern Technologies for their underground data center expansion.
- IGSA Power SystemsregionalIGSA Power Systems is the sales representative for VYCON products in Mexico and Latin America, facilitating the Mexico City International Airport deployment.
- UrbaconminorUrbacon is a technical partner that recommended replacing The Travel Corporation's lead-acid batteries with VYCON VDC-XXE flywheel systems.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves1 record
Vycon competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Active Power (Caterpillar): Active Power was Vycon's most direct competitor in flywheel-based UPS systems for mission-critical facilities before being acquired by Caterpillar in 2017. It offered similar kinetic-energy ride-through products targeting data centers and healthcare.
- Beacon Power: Beacon Power manufactured flywheel energy storage systems for grid regulation and UPS applications. As a direct flywheel peer, it represents the closest technology and use-case analog to Vycon's VDC and REGEN product lines, though it filed for bankruptcy in 2011.
Broad incumbents
- ABB: ABB is one of Vycon's certified UPS OEM channel partners, also a broad power-electronics and UPS incumbent serving data centers, rail, and industrial markets. Comparable as both a partner and overlapping solution provider in mission-critical power.
- Vertiv: Vertiv (formerly Emerson Network Power) certifies and resells Vycon flywheels alongside its three-phase UPS portfolio and offers competing lithium-ion UPS solutions. Comparable as a UPS incumbent serving the same data center and industrial customers.
- Schneider Electric: Schneider Electric certifies Vycon flywheels for use with its three-phase UPS offerings and is a broad power-management incumbent for data centers, healthcare, and industrial facilities.
- Eaton: Eaton certifies and resells Vycon flywheels alongside its three-phase UPS lines and competes with broad power-quality and energy-storage solutions targeting the same mission-critical end markets.
- Fluence Energy: Fluence is a leading grid-scale battery energy storage systems provider. While focused on longer-duration grid applications rather than UPS ride-through, it represents the broader competitive landscape for energy storage that overlaps Vycon's microgrid and renewable use cases.
- Tesla (Energy / Megapack): Tesla's Megapack and Powerpack products target large-scale battery energy storage for utilities and increasingly data centers. Comparable as a broader energy-storage incumbent encroaching on flywheel addressable markets.
Emerging players
- East Penn Manufacturing: East Penn is a major North American lead-acid and advanced battery manufacturer competing with Vycon in backup power for data centers, healthcare, and rail. Comparable as a competing energy-storage technology provider serving the same mission-critical segments.
- EnerSys: EnerSys manufactures industrial batteries including backup power solutions for data centers, telecom, and rail — directly competing with Vycon's flywheel ride-through value proposition for VRLA replacement.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Vycon social profiles
Digital presenceVycon financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vycon leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Vycon funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vycon M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Vycon
What does Vycon do?
VYCON designs, manufactures, and sells high-speed flywheel energy storage systems that store kinetic energy for backup power (VDC Direct Connect line) and regenerative energy capture (REGEN line). The systems use patented active magnetic bearings and permanent magnet motor generators to deliver instantaneous ride-through power for UPS applications in data centers, hospitals, and industrial facilities, and to capture and reuse regenerative braking energy in electric rail and microgrid applications. Complete systems include the flywheel unit, power electronics, monitoring interface, and integration with major three-phase UPS brands.
Is Vycon a public or private company?
Vycon is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Vycon founded?
Vycon was founded in 2002. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Vycon based?
Vycon is headquartered in Cerritos, United States, in the North America region.
How does Vycon make money?
One revenue line is on record: flywheel Energy Storage Hardware Sales.
Who are Vycon's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Active Power (Caterpillar) and Beacon Power. Broad incumbents are ABB, Vertiv, Schneider Electric, Eaton, Fluence Energy and Tesla (Energy / Megapack). Emerging players are East Penn Manufacturing and EnerSys.
Does Vycon have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vycon.
What industry is Vycon in?
Vycon's product category is Flywheel Energy Storage Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDABAKAC, Energy Storage Systems (BESS, Flywheels, Batteries), with a secondary code of EUAFADAB, Mechanical LDES (Pumped Hydro, Compressed/Liquid Air, Flywheels). Its NAICS code is 333613 and its SIC code is 3621.