POWER ReVolt – Technical Q&A Interview with JD Schwalm, founder & CEO, Revolt Holdings
Can you describe how movie sets are powered today and what ReVolt does that distinguishes itself from legacy approaches?
Gasoline and diesel generators have been powering Hollywood movie sets for years
and emitting harmful carbon dioxide (CO2). Cameras, sound and lighting equipment, special effects rigs and basecamps all rely on generator power. As movie sets have grown in size and complexity, their carbon footprint has grown equally.
ReVolt provide clean, mobile, perpetual and quiet electricity with the ability to monitor power levels remotely via an app so mobile power stations can be recharged when needed. ReVolt leverages propriety technology and has incorporated small, power dense Vicor power modules to deliver scalable performance and portability to our
How do you quantify how much better your product is for the environment?
ReVolt’s systems eliminate the use of fossil fuels entirely. Each WeVolt unit prevents
an average of 7.5 metric tons of CO2 per and our Mules and CanaVans displace much larger diesel generators. Additionally, ReVolt systems produce zero particulate emissions and operate silently, removing local air and noise pollution that has long
product being so much quieter?
Traditional diesel generators run at 85–95 dB, making dialogue recording and crew need to be placed away from the set and require long cable runs. ReVolt units operate below 30 dB, quieter than normal conversation. This allows for sound recording without generator interference, enabling production sound mixers to capture cleaner audio and reduce costly ADR sessions in post. The reduced noise also improves set safety and overall working conditions, while allowing night shoots in residential areas without disturbing communities — an sustainability compliance.
What topologies and control
The smallest power system, the WeVolt, generates 17.5kWh capacity and 14kW output and the 8,500 pound Mule delivers 210kW of capacity and 120kW of output power, supplying on-demand energy across 480V, 208V, 240V and 110V connections. Additionally, this technology is virtually silent, emitting about as much noise as a computer fan.
strategies do you employ to allow simultaneous charge and discharge while supplying highly variable loads?
Our BMS monitors cell parameters. A group of parallel-connected, grid-forming inverters powered by a large DC battery pack (1) provides stabilised, utility-grade 3-phase output power to the loads. Another group of parallel-connected inverters, powered by a separate battery pack (2) with the same control features, shares the load and pushes additional energy into battery pack (1). Each inverter monitors DC bus voltage and current, as well as 3-phase AC load characteristics such as voltage, current, phase angle and power factor. A separate modular power meter measures output voltage, current and phase angle for each leg, as well as neutral current. A custom- designed EMS controls and monitors each component via CAN bus, Modbus and Ethernet.
buffering techniques ensure a stable sine wave output under such dynamic conditions?
against loads that generate harmonics. The system detects unbalanced 3-phase line
connections, high neutral current and power factor issues, alerting operators in advance when parameters approach limits. Our EMS uses closed-loop voltage control, directing the inverters to adjust voltage based on load. This ensures no dips or spikes, managed through a fast PID control algorithm.
Your systems operate across internal distribution architecture?
Our 800V DC bus is primarily kept close to the battery and only energises the charging infrastructure and inverter systems through BMS control and high-voltage DC contactors. We use a standardized low-voltage DC bus operating at 48V, 24V, 12V and 5V, supplied through Vicor modules. On the AC side, we start at 480V and step down via large transformers to 208V 3-phase, 240V split- phase and 120V single-phase.
WeVolt’s modular platform scales well expanding into construction, live events and emergency response — anywhere that requires high-reliability off-grid power.
NOVEMBER 2025 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS
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