Unique Mobility Announces Strategic Relationships With Orbital Engine Corporation and Koyo Seiko
12 December 1997
Unique Mobility Announces Strategic Relationships With Orbital Engine Corporation and Koyo Seiko
Efforts Will Supplement Previously Announced Hybrid Development Programs With
Deere & Co., PEI Electronics and the US Departments
Of Defense and Transportation
ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 12 -- Unique Mobility, Inc. (AMEX: UQM)
announced today that it has signed separate memoranda of understanding with
Orbital Engine Corporation Limited and Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
(Osaka, Japan) to develop hybrid electric vehicle power systems.
The announcement came during the 14th International Electric Vehicle
Symposium and Exposition (EVS-14) in Orlando, Florida.
"These alliances, together with previously announced programs with Deere,
PEI Electronics and the US Departments of Defense and Transportation, build on
our core electric motor technology and position Unique on the cutting edge of
hybrid electric power system development for all sizes and shapes of on-road
and off-road vehicles," said Ray A. Geddes, Unique's Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer. "For many applications, hybrid power is the wave of the
future."
The Orbital Collaboration
Unique and Orbital will cooperate on the development and application of
their respective technologies to hybrid electric and electrically assisted
internal combustion engines. The Australian-based Orbital is a leading
developer of engine components and fuel systems using direct injection, lean
burn combustion, and control systems for both two-cycle and four-cycle
automotive, motorcycle, marine and other utility engines. Unique is a leading
supplier of high efficiency permanent magnet motors and electronic controls
for electric and hybrid power systems.
As a first step in their cooperation, Unique and Orbital have integrated
an innovative hybrid electric assist powertrain concept into the Pininfarina
designed Ethos HEV open sports car that is being showcased by Unique at
EVS-14.
The Ethos HEV powertrain consists of a 40 kW (53 hp) 0.8 liter Orbital
direct-injected two cycle engine with a 10.5 kW (14 hp) UQM(R)
charge-sustaining power assist motor/generator. A 13 Ah battery pack
functions as an energy absorber. In addition to microprocessor torque and
power assist, the system provides instantaneous engine starting, accessory
power, regenerative braking and torsional damping. This enables the vehicle
to utilize a much smaller engine with significantly lower emissions, improved
fuel economy and reduced engine vibration.
The Koyo Seiko Collaboration
Unique and Koyo Seiko will collaborate on the development of a flywheel
battery which Koyo Seiko hopes to commercialize by the turn of the century.
Initial markets are expected to include stationary applications for the
electric utility industry and energy storage systems for passenger cars, large
trucks and buses. Koyo Seiko, part of the Toyota group of companies, is a
large multinational supplier of bearings, power steering systems and other
components to the automotive industry.
For the flywheel development, Koyo Seiko will be responsible for overall
system design and the supply of magnetic bearings. The flywheel rotor and hub
will come from Flywheel Energy Systems, Inc. (Nepean, Ontario), a third key
contributor to the effort. Unique will supply a high speed (30,000 rpm), high
efficiency motor/generator.
The first prototype flywheel system is expected to achieve 0.5 kWh of
energy storage and a rated power of 20 kW. A mockup of the prototype is on
display at the Unique booth at EVS-14. According to Kazuo Rokkaku, General
Manager of Mechatronics & Automotive Component Development for Koyo Seiko,
basic testing and evaluation of the prototype will be completed by March 1998
with production efforts to follow.
Related Hybrid Programs and Projects
In February 1997, Unique received a contract to supply a 100 kW (130 hp)
traction drive system for the "Advanced Technology Transit Bus" being
developed collaboratively by Northrop Grumman, the Houston Metro Transit
Authority and the US Department of Transportation. The system's motor and
controller components have been completed and are currently in limited
production.
In October 1997, Unique received a Defense Advanced Research Projects
Agency (DARPA) funded contract to work with Deere & Co. to build a
state-of-the-art, auxiliary power unit (APU) for large hybrid-electric
military trucks and off-road equipment. To build the APU, Unique will mate
its new 100 kW motor generator with an 168 kW (225 hp) six-cylinder 6.8 liter
Deere PowerTech engine. The engine can be fueled with diesel (for military
use) or compressed natural gas (CNG).
Also during 1997, Unique supplied four 75 kW (100 hp) traction motors and
a 55 kW (73 hp) generator to PEI Electronics for integration into a DARPA-
funded hybrid-electric HMMWV military vehicle. The four electric motors
provide truly independent four wheel drive, allowing the vehicle to actually
turn around in place by having one or more wheels turn in opposite directions.
The 9100 lb. hybrid HMMWV, rolled out last week to an audience of government
and military officials, accelerates from zero to 50 in eight seconds and
climbs a 60 percent incline at 17 mph -- twice the acceleration rate and
climbing ability of the conventional "Hummer."
Unique's 100kW traction drive system and the Deere PowerTech natural gas
hybrid APU are being showcased at the Unique booth at EVS-14. A media
demonstration of the hybrid HMMWV was held at Universal Studios on December 11
in a special event marking the opening of EVS-14.
Unique Mobility, Inc. is one of the world's leading developers of energy
efficient electric and hybrid vehicle systems. It is a Golden, Colorado based
engineering concern and manufacturer of high efficiency permanent magnet
motors and controls for automotive, aerospace and industrial applications.
For more information on the Company, please visit our world wide web site at
http://www.uqm.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from
those discussed in this release. Factors that could cause or contribute to
such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (file no. 23843). These forward-
looking statements represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this
release. The Company disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update
these forward-looking statements.
SOURCE Unique Mobility, Inc.