Lordstown Motors Announces Exclusive Licensing Agreement with Elaphe for In-Wheel Hub Motors

LORDSTOWN, OH – May 12, 2020 – Lordstown Motors Corp., a new Ohio-based original equipment manufacturer of light-duty, fully-electric fleet vehicles, has announced an exclusive licensing agreement with Elaphe Propulsion TechnologiesTM. As a developer and producer of high-tech propulsion technology, Elaphe will develop the Model L-1500 Endurance In-Wheel Motor which will be used in the Lordstown Endurance. As part of the agreement, motors for Lordstown vehicles will be built by Lordstown Motors Corp. employees at the company’s Ohio headquarters.

“Our relationship with Elaphe goes back over a decade, and their commitment to Lordstown Motors Corp. and passion for the Lordstown Endurance is stronger than ever,” said Steve Burns, Lordstown Motors CEO. “The caliber of work they’ve produced is some of the best and most innovative in the industry; we’re proud of the work we’ve done together up to this point and enthusiastic about what’s to come.” Initial set-up of the 20,000 square foot production line, which Elaphe will help manage and support, has already begun, and while the project will take 9 months to get to full production capacity, Lordstown will begin using the new lines within the next 6 months for beta testing and pre-production vehicles. Every Lordstown Endurance that rolls off the line will use Elaphe Model L-1500 Endurance In-Wheel Motors built in the Ohio plant.

““While most vehicle manufacturers are focusing merely on catching up and competing with legacy electric powertrain technologies pioneered decades ago by pure-EV OEMs, Lordstown is making a giant leap forward by building its vehicles around the needs of their users and not around the traditional powertrain-integration-imposed tradeoffs,” says Gorazd Lampič, Elaphe CEO. “We strongly believe that the packaging, modularity, redundancy and advanced functions of vehicle control that Elaphe hub motors enable are key to delivering torque in the way a true 4WD should be done. We are proud to be part of what Lordstown is trying to achieve – the evolution of the vehicle into a reliable work tool, a functional workspace and a worker’s best friend in the field.”

“In addition to providing the technology for the in-wheel hub motors, Elaphe will also provide engineering support, technical assistance and consulting services throughout the project. Financial terms are not being disclosed.

“About Lordstown Motors Corp. Lordstown Motors Corp. (LMC) is an Ohio-based original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of light duty fleet vehicles, founded by CEO Steve Burns with the purpose of transforming Ohio’s Mahoning Valley and Lordstown, Ohio into the epicenter of electric-vehicle manufacturing. On November 7, 2019, LMC acquired the 785 acre, 6.2 million square foot GM Assembly Plant in Lordstown, Ohio from General Motors where they will build the Lordstown EnduranceTM, believed to be the world’s first fully-electric pickup truck.

“In 2020, LMC will complete the engineering and development of the Endurance. Designed to serve the commercial pickup truck market, the Endurance will be the first production vehicle that utilizes a 4-wheel-drive hub-motor system, a design that reduces the number of moving parts. With its hub motor design, Lordstown engineers have set out to re-invent the electric vehicle.

“The Endurance pickup truck is designed with features fleets want, like an onboard power export, allowing workers to run power tools at the job site without the need for a portable generator or leaving the truck running. Fleet managers benefit from less breakdowns, lower maintenance, and most importantly, lower cost. The overall benefit is an attractive Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), which translates into a significantly lower lifetime operational cost compared to traditional pickup trucks.

“The Lordstown Endurance is engineered to be lightweight, with all-wheel drive and a low center of gravity, while maintaining ground clearance. Lordstown Motors has set a goal to make the Endurance pickup truck the safest, most economical, and greenest electric pickup truck ever built. The Endurance will be manufactured and assembled at the Lordstown Facility.

“For additional information, visit www.lordstownmotors.com.

“About Elaphe Propulsion Technologies

“In 2006, Elaphe Propulsion Technologies was founded with a mission to bring in-wheel powertrain solutions to the automotive mass market. Today, Elaphe Propulsion Technologies Ltd. is a leading developer and producer of high-tech propulsion technology based on the premise of multiple-motor propulsion.

“A major cornerstone of Elaphe’s technology portfolio is their high torque-density in-wheel propulsion technology which is enabling a new era of innovation in the automotive industry. Patented and scalable electromagnetic and mechanical designs enable ElapheTM products to be tailored for specific ranges of torque and power to fit most vehicle configurations. The compactness of Elaphe e-machine technology allows for the use of standard friction brakes and bearings within the motor envelope, enabling the motors to package seamlessly with suspension and steering interfaces.

“Elaphe’s track record includes the largest variety of in-wheel-supported vehicle platforms, including the world’s highest-performance in-wheel-powered applications to date, such as AWD electric SUVs and supercars. The company provides vehicle manufacturers with holistic powertrain solutions that include in-wheel motors, power electronics and intelligent multiple-motor propulsion control. In addition to being a supplier, Elaphe supports licensing in order to enable ambitious OEMs to use their internal manufacturing

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