High Performance Electric Drive

September 15, 2002 – Vol.7 No.25

HIGH PERFORMANCE ELECTRIC DRIVE.

There’s one thing in common with battery electric, hybrid and fuel cell vehicles. They all have an electric motor to propel the vehicle - fully or in part. And with a statement similar to one in the above story - the better the performance of the electric drive motor, the better the performance of the hybrid, fuel cell or electric vehicle.

UQM Technologies has announced a new breakthrough in the performance of electric drive motors - high torque for start-up combined with high motor speed needed for cruising. The company claims it has a permanent magnet electric motor system that achieves a 10 to 1 constant power speed ratio (CPSR) - the constant power top rotational speed is ten times the base rotational speed. The company claims the motor outperforms the industry’s best performing motors by a factor of two

Aside from better acceleration from a standing start, a less complex vehicle gearbox would be needed with the motor technology with should help reduce costs. The technology will be adaptable to wide range of electric drive motors. Visit UQM at http://www.uqm.com/.