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
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.
CO: Unique Mobility, Inc.; U.S. Department of Energy
ST: Colorado, Michigan
Del |
