New Industry Products

UQM Technologies Develops Propulsion System for EVs, HEVs and FCVs

January 17, 1999 by Jeff Shepard

UQM Technologies Inc. (Detroit, MI) announced that it has developed a propulsion system designed to offer high levels of performance and efficiency in hybrid, electric and fuel cell vehicles. The company's integrated electric traction system (INTETS) was unveiled at the 2001 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) World Congress in Detroit.

Designed entirely by UQM, INTETS is a sole propulsion system for small- to mid-size vehicles or an axle drive system for larger vehicles. An intelligent electronic controller allows tailoring the system for various different applications. The system measures 15" long with an 11" diameter, not including the system's option inverter. It integrates a high-torque, 94-horsepower brushless permanent magnet motor using neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets for off-the-line acceleration and greater than 100mph top speed, depending on tire size. INTETS incorporates epicyclic single-stage gearing, off-the-shelf differential componentry, and parking pawl. Components are designed to meet FMVSS standards and a 150,000-mile life.

“INTETS is ideally suited for use in the most popular advanced technology vehicle types now in development by automakers worldwide," said William G. Rankin, president and CEO of UQM. “Its highly integrated designs offers a very compact footprint, an important edge in a highly competitive arena where the size and weight of virtually every automotive component is crucial to achieving maximum efficiency and economy. This is especially true in the case of next-generation advanced technology vehicles where increasing fuel economy or range is an absolute imperative, or where additional space is needed for passengers or energy storage."

UQM plans to have INTETS prototypes available for delivery by fall 2001.