Unique Mobility Receives Contract to Develop High Performance Integrated Electric Traction System
DOE Award Directed Toward Emerging Market for Hybrid-Electric And Fuel Cell-Electric Vehicles
July 07, 1999 08:16
GOLDEN, Colo., July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Unique Mobility, Inc. (Amex: UQM) announced today that it has received a U.S. Department of Energy grant award to design and build an advanced electric traction system capable of propelling mid-sized hybrid-electric and fuel cell-electric passenger vehicles. Two Detroit automakers have indicated high interest in the project and have agreed to evaluate early prototypes.
The two-year engineering project is valued at $750,000 and follows an earlier DOE funded effort by Unique that validated the preliminary system design. The current effort will focus on manufacturability and cost analysis.
According to Jon Lutz, Manager of Unique's Motor Engineering Department, "the system incorporates an innovative combination of an energy efficient electric motor, gears and differential. By using Unique's patented phase advance technology, the system will produce both high starting torque and higher speeds (i.e. power) without increasing the size and cost of the motor/controller package."
"The size of the complete system is smaller than a 12 inch cube," said Lutz, "yet it can deliver as much as 100 horsepower and 1,100 ft-lbs. of torque to the wheels -- more than enough to put sports car zing into a mid-size sedan." We are not aware of another product in the market that can come close to this power density and packagability."
"This effort will add another product to our arsenal of electric propulsion systems," said Ray A. Geddes, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "It combines our technical expertise and manufacturing know-how in the field of high-efficiency, power dense permanent magnet motors and gear assemblies to arrive at a compact, cost-effective traction drive system for the automotive industry."
Unique Mobility, Inc., is a leading developer and manufacturer of power dense, high efficiency motors, gear assemblies and electronic and wire harness assemblies for the aerospace, telecommunications, automotive, medical and industrial markets. The company is headquartered in Golden, Colorado, with manufacturing facilities in Frederick, Colorado (electric motors and precision gears) and St. Charles, Missouri (electronic assemblies and wire harnesses).
This release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results. Readers are referred to the Risk Factors section of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-67313) filed by Unique with the SEC, which identifies important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including Unique's history of operating losses, its ability to obtain additional financing, competition, the Company's ability to integrate acquired businesses into existing operations, Unique's ability to protect its proprietary information, Year 2000 issues and Unique's limited experience in manufacturing processes and procedures and marketing and distribution.
SOURCE Unique Mobility, Inc.
/CONTACT: John S. Gould, Director, Investor Relations of Unique Mobility,
303-278-2002/
/Web site: uqm.com
(UQM) |
