New powerful electric motor from UQM

Automotive device maker UQM Technologies (AMEX: UQM) today announced a new 150 kW (200 horsepower) electric motor for electric vehicle applications.

The company calls its "peak power UQM® proprietary permanent magnet propulsion system suitable for high performance automotive applications and heavy-duty commercial and military vehicles."

The device [ed.: which UQM steadfastly refused to call simply a motor, even once, in its press release] has a continuous power rating of 100kW (143 horsepower), delivers peak torque of 650 N-m (480 ft-lbs) and continuous torque of 400 N-m (295 ft-lbs) and has the highest power density of any of its propulsion systems, it said.

It also features on-the-fly torque, speed and voltage control and energy efficiency of over 90 percent in most operations, the company claimed.

"This system will allow us to pursue additional market opportunities for vehicle platforms with higher power requirements that we were previously unable to service," said Jon Lutz, Director of Engineering for UQM Technologies.

"We are confident that this system will be well received by a wide range of potential customers."

The company is now accepting orders for the new motor.

A number of companies are jockeying to provide next generation motors to electric and hybrid vehicles makers. One such company in particular is U.K.-based PML FlightLink.

UQM is a developer and manufacturer of 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 now 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 and distributed power generation applications.

The company is based in Frederick, Colorado.

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