Apr 28, 2009 08:30 ET
UQM Technologies PowerPhase®125 Electric Propulsion System Powers Citroen C4 Hybrid World Rally Car
FREDERICK, Colo. --(Business Wire)-- Apr 28, 2009
UQM Technologies, Inc. (NYSE Amex: UQM), a developer of
alternative energy technologies, announced today that its PowerPhase®
125 electric propulsion system is powering the Citroen C4 Hybrid Rally
Car currently being tested by Citroen Racing.
First shown at the Paris and then Bologna and Geneva Motorshows, the
Citroen C4 WRC Hybrid4 made its debut on the road in Finland before that
country’s world rally car round in a slow speed demonstration.
Subsequent testing in Faro, Portugal was the first at rally speeds and
under rally conditions. The C4 Hybrid was developed using Citroen’s WRC
championship contender as a base and adding a 990 cell lithium ion
battery and a UQM® Powerphase® 125 electric propulsion system which
drives the rear wheels.
“This system, developed by Citroen Racing, allows the driver to choose
between four different modes of functionality,” explains Didier Clement,
one of the race engineers behind the project. “In internal combustion
mode, the C4 WRC Hybrid4 behaves exactly like one of the C4 WRC cars
that compete on the World Rally Championship. In internal combustion
mode, with energy recovery mode switched on, braking endurance is
improved and the batteries get charged. On road sections and in the
service park, electric mode with energy recovery means that there is
less nuisance, increased range and less wear on the conventional engine.
Finally, in boost mode - which employs both the internal combustion
engine and the electric motor - gives an extra 300 Nm of torque when
engaged.”
The two engines are linked to the same drivetrain. The driver can choose
electric mode simply by switching on the ignition without starting the
internal combustion engine. The gearbox paddles then gives the driver a
choice of three settings: forward, backwards and neutral.
Didier Raso, an electrical and systems engineer for Citroen commented,
“The objective with this project was to be able to use the electric
motor to drive on some of the road sections. This fully operational
concept responds to that design brief. Citroen Racing wanted to show its
ability to adapt this technology to motorsport. If at any point in the
future the regulations permit the use of hybrid technology, we will be
able to react straight away.”
William G. Rankin, UQM Technologies President and Chief Executive
Officer said, “We are pleased that Citroen Racing has selected a UQM®
PowerPhase® propulsion system to power their advanced technology WCR.
The high performance of our electric propulsion systems is ideally
suited for the demands of a racing vehicle, and we are excited to be a
part of this program.”
UQM Technologies, Inc. is a developer and manufacturer of power dense,
high efficiency electric motors, generators and power electronic
controllers for the automotive, aerospace, medical, military and
industrial markets. A major emphasis of the Company is developing
products for the alternative energy technologies sector including
propulsion systems for electric, hybrid electric and fuel cell electric
vehicles, under-the-hood power accessories and other vehicle auxiliaries
and distributed power generation applications. The Company's
headquarters, engineering and product development center, and
manufacturing operation are located in Frederick, Colorado. For more
information on the Company, please visit its website at www.uqm.com.
This Release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act. These statements appear in a
number of places in this Release and include statements regarding our
plans, beliefs or current expectations, including those plans, beliefs
and expectations of our officers and directors with respect to, among
other things the development of markets for our products and the
adequacy of our cash balances and liquidity to meet future operating
needs. Important Risk Factors that could cause actual results to
differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements are
contained in our Form 10-Q, filed January 29, 2009, which is available
through our website at www.uqm.com or
at www.sec.gov.
UQM Technologies, Inc.
Donald A. French, 303-278-2002
or
BPC
Financial Marketing
John Baldiserra, 800-368-1217