Advanced Electric Powertrain System For Heavy Vehicles

Electric cars are all very nice, but if the goal is to lower carbon emissions and reduce the use of fossil fuels, what we really need is more electric trucks. After all, trucks contribute a disproportionate amount of the carbon emissions from the transportation sector. Diesel trucks add other nasty things like nitrous oxides and particulates to the atmosphere.

Colorado’s UQM Technologies has forged an alliance with Eaton and Michigan’s Pi Innovo to develop a fully electric drivetrain system. “Supplier relationships with Eaton and Pi Innovo will allow UQM to meet the growth projections of the EV commercial global market including China, Europe and South America,” the company says in a press release this week.

The alliance calls for Eaton to develop and supply a two speed transmission for an EV application. Pi Innovo will develop and supply the transmission control unit. Together, the components will be combined with UQM’s current PowerPhase HD220/HD250 motor and inverter system to create a full electric drivetrain system called the UQM PowerPhaseDT. UQM says it will have prototypes ready for customers by early fall and start production early in 2017.

The Eaton two speed transmission provides a greater speed and torque range than is normally possible in a direct drive system. That means a smaller, less expensive electric motor can be used to power large vehicles. The drivetrain allows for better packaging, efficiency, greater payload capacity, and lower cost when compared with direct drive or single speed drivetrain strategies.

“Perhaps the biggest benefit is the fact that the two-speed transmission keeps the electric motor operating in the highest efficiency region for a greater portion of the drive cycle,” UQM technology VP Josh Ley says in the partnership announcement. “This, coupled with the extremely high efficiency of the UQM PowerPhaseDT electric drivetrain system, will enable the highest overall vehicle efficiency, saving cost in batteries and increasing range,” he said.

“Pi Innovo’s hardware, software, and applications engineers have worked closely with the UQM team to optimize the performance of the system to meet the efficiency requirements demanded by UQM’s customers,” said Pi Innovo Walter Lucking. “ Marco Rollero, Eaton vehicle group EMEA sales and marketing director adds,“This system will help vehicle manufacturers ensure they are providing a product that helps them improve vehicle efficiency without compromising performance.

The partnership couldn’t come at a better time. In the commercial world, efficiency and cost drive buying decisions rather than the styling and performance issues that attract passenger car buyers. Getting people and stuff from here to there at the cheapest per mile cost is what sells trucks. If this drivetrain shifts that equation — which includes not only original purchase price but also total cost of fuel and maintenance over a vehicle’s useful life — more fleet managers will find electric trucks are just what their business needs.

“We have done extensive market research and believe that this offering will be the ideal drivetrain solution for electric and range-extended commercial vehicles,” said UQM president and CEO Joe Mitchell. “The development and production of a full electric drivetrain system will support the overarching need for full transmission systems as enhanced performance and efficiency requirements are mandated by customer drive cycle needs as well as the need to reduce battery costs and meet more stringent environmental regulations,” he says.

New UQM PowerPhase HD 220 electric drive systems to power Boulder EV delivery vans for FedEx Express

UQM Technologies, Inc. has begun supplying the recently introduced PowerPhase HD 220 electric drive systems to Boulder EV to build delivery vans for FedEx Express.
Boulder EV will use the PowerPhase HD 220 systems in its composite delivery van designed specifically as an all-electric vehicle. Delivering a maximum output of 220 kW, and 120 kW on a continuous basis, the PowerPhase HD 220 offers commercial trucks and buses an efficient path to the adoption of electric propulsion technology in heavy-duty vehicles.
Boulder EV is a green tech manufacturing company that makes purpose-built, all-electric delivery trucks and Work Utility Vehicles (WUV) or cargo vans. These are designed from the ground up to meet the lightweight aerodynamic and safety needs of all-electric vehicles.

UQM introduces PowerPhase HD 220 electric propulsion system for heavy-duty trucks and buses

UQM Technologies, Inc. is introducing its most powerful electric propulsion system yet: the PowerPhase HD 220 electric propulsion system. The production-ready HD 220 will make its debut at the Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS26) conference in Los Angeles, 6-9 May 2012. The system is targeted for the heavy-duty truck and bus markets. Delivering a maximum output of 220kW, and 120kW on a continuous basis, the HD 220 is production-ready and would be built in the UQM volume-production manufacturing facility in Colorado. The PowerPhase HD 220 joins PowerPhase Pro 100 and 135 production-validated, automotive-qualified electric propulsion systems for battery electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles. UQM PowerPhase electric propulsion systems have been selected to power the CODA all electric passenger car, Proterra’s all-electric composite transit buses, as well as Electric Vehicles International’s all-electric medium-duty truck and walk-in van, including a fleet of 100 UPS delivery vans. UQM also was selected to power the Audi A1 e-tron and Rolls-Royce 102EX Electric Phantom pre-production test fleet vehicles.

Audi A1 e-tron Electric Motors to be Provided by UQM Technologies for Test Fleet

UQM Technologies, Inc. will supply PowerPhase electric propulsion systems as part of an Audi test-fleet build and vehicle development process for its A1 e-tron.

Audi’s A1 e-tron is a range-extended electric city concept vehicle featuring a 75 kW (102 hp) peak power electric traction motor and a single-rotor Wankel engine coupled with an electrical generator with a charge rating of up to 15 kW.

Automobile manufacturers typically build test fleets to evaluate new technologies and vehicles that are under development prior to their market launch.

The UQM PowerPhase range is a lightweight electric drive motor and controller featuring CAN bus, serial communications and diagnostic capability.

In addition to a full line of electric propulsion systems, UQM recently completed the validation of its volume production lines with annual capacity of 40,000 units.

UQM Technologies PowerPhase® Electric Propulsion System Powers Saab 9-3 ePower All-Electric Development Test Fleet

PRESS RELEASE

• Saab 9-3 ePower test fleet of 70 vehicles will be powered by UQM Technologies electric motors and controllers
• Deliveries of PowerPhase 135kW systems to Saab began in Q3 of CY 2010
• These electric propulsion systems for the Saab 9-3 ePower vehicles were previously announced by UQM as an order from an international OEM
• UQM has in place validated production lines for its PowerPhase 100 and 135kW systems with annual capacity of 40,000 systems

UQM Technologies, Inc. (NYSE Amex: UQM), a developer of alternative-energy technologies, has been selected by Saab to power its all-electric Saab 9-3 ePower development test fleet. Initial deliveries began in the third calendar quarter of 2010 and will continue through CY 2011.

“This order from Saab reinforces our ability to meet the performance, quality and cost needs of international automobile companies developing electric and hybrid vehicles”

“This order from Saab reinforces our ability to meet the performance, quality and cost needs of international automobile companies developing electric and hybrid vehicles,” said Eric Ridenour, President and CEO of UQM Technologies. “The PowerPhase 135kW systems for Saab are being built on our validated production lines with annual capacity of 40,000 systems. These production lines are among the many steps we have taken to fully prepare UQM to grow from test-fleet programs to production fulfillment.”

The UQM PowerPhase 135 kW electric propulsion systems will power the 70 Saab 9-3 ePower test fleet vehicles. The 9-3 ePower program is the first step towards developing a potential Saab production vehicle. The PowerPhase 135kW features a power-dense 135 kW/181 hp electric motor and advanced control system. Saab will use our propulsion system with a single-speed transmission, and the company has published performance estimates of 100 km/hr (62 mph) acceleration in just 8.5 seconds together with a top speed of 150 km/h (93 mph). Saab will begin field trials of the test fleet in Sweden early this year.

“We are looking forward to working with Saab through its automotive testing and qualification program with our PowerPhase electric propulsion system,” said Ridenour. “Our history of technological innovation in developing electric propulsion systems combined with extensive production engineering capabilities gives us a unique advantage in meeting the development and production needs of vehicle manufacturers.”

About Saab

Saab, or Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget (Swedish Aircraft Company), was founded in 1937 as an aircraft manufacturer and revealed its first prototype passenger car 10 years later after the formation of the Saab Car Division. In 1990, Saab Automobile AB was created as a separate company, jointly owned by the Saab Scania Group and General Motors, and became a wholly owned GM subsidiary in 2000. In February 2010, Spyker Cars N.V. of the Netherlands, acquired the company from GM as an independently-run business.

Saab cars reflect the brand's unique Scandinavian design ethic, which is fused with its aircraft engineering heritage. The company is a global premium car maker with a distinguished history of innovation. It is recognized for its pioneering role in turbocharging, as well as occupant safety and the introduction of flex-fuel technology through Saab BioPower. Saab Automobile AB currently employs approximately 3,800 staff in Sweden, where it operates world-class production and technical development facilities at its headquarters in Trollhättan, 70 km north of Gothenburg.

Please visit www.saab.com for more information.

About UQM Technologies

UQM Technologies is a developer and manufacturer of power-dense, high-efficiency electric motors, generators and power electronic controllers for the automotive, aerospace, military and industrial markets. A major emphasis for UQM is developing products for the alternative-energy technologies sector, including propulsion systems for electric, hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric and fuel cell electric vehicles, under-the-hood power accessories and other vehicle auxiliaries. UQM headquarters, engineering, product development center and manufacturing operation are located in Longmont, Colorado.

Please visit www.uqm.com for more information.

UQM Technologies in Conjunction With BorgWarner Team Up To Manufacture Electric Powertrains

The CODA Sedan With UQM Electric Drivetrain

UQM Technologies is collaborating with BorgWarner on electric powertrain products for all-electric and hybrid-electric passenger automobiles.

Initially, the companies are working together to integrate UQM Technologies’ PowerPhase electric propulsion system with BorgWarner’s 31-03 eGearDrive transmission for the all-electric CODA front-wheel drive five-passenger sedan, scheduled for introduction in the California market in mid-2010.

The UQM PowerPhase electric propulsion system has a peak power rating of 100 kW (134 hp) and a continuous power rating of 45 kW (60 hp). It delivers peak torque of 300 N·m (221 lb-ft) and continuous torque of 160 N·m (118 lb-ft).

With a diameter of only 280 mm (11 inches) and a weight of 46 kg (102 lbs), this motor will fit easily in a wide range of passenger vehicles, including subcompacts. The system also features optimized four-quadrant performance, dynamic torque, speed and voltage control, and system energy efficiency of more than 90% across a substantial portion of its power curve.

The BorgWarner 31-03 eGearDrive transmission is suited for mid-range electric vehicles on either front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive transverse driveline applications. An eGearDrive system is featured on the Tesla Roadster electric vehicle.

The single-speed 31-03 uses a unique flange and coupling for adaptation to the PowerPhase motor housing to accommodate input shaft speeds of up to 14,000 rpm with a wide range of reduction ratios and very high operating efficiency. The 31-03 is also available with an optional ePark feature, an electronically actuated park lock system.

An electric powertrain consisting of a UQM PowerPhase electric propulsion system mated with the BorgWarner 31-03 eGearDrive transmission provides a compact and torque-dense package, delivering nearly 2,000 N·m (1,500 lb-ft) of torque with a gear ratio of approximately 6.5 to 1. The package will propel a mid-size passenger vehicle at highway speeds with economical, high powertrain efficiency.

Source: Green Car Congress

UQM Technologies Introduces 145 kW System

UQM Technologies is all over the scene as concerns the electric drive-trains for future automobiles. All that is needed is for some major auto manufacturer to sign a contract with them to supply their products to an assembly line. This announcement is for a perfectly sized motor for an all electric vehicle.

From Green Car Gongress:

UQM Technologies has released a new motor/generator system for use in electric propulsion applications. The new 145 kW system extends the peak power available in the company’s smaller 280 mm diameter frame size from 125 kW to 145 kW, has a continuous power rating of 85 kW, delivers peak torque of 400 N·m and weighs only 50 kg.

UQM propulsion systems and generators are available in a variety of power levels in either a 280 mm diameter frame size or a larger 405 mm diameter frame size.

UQM also offers a complete line of matching power electronic motor controllers to intelligently manage the operation of its motors and generators, as well as DC-to-DC converter and DC-to-AC inverter power conversion products.

We are pleased to add the PowerPhase 145 system to our line-up of electric propulsion systems for light-duty and heavy-duty vehicle applications. Originally developed for a high performance passenger automobile, this system delivers exceptional peak power and torque in a compact package. It is also an ideal generator for hybrid electric and plug-in hybrid electric range extenders due to its high continuous output capability and an operating speed range that matches compact engines.

—Jon Lutz, UQM Technologies’ Vice President of Technology