Jun 7 2007
UQM TECHNOLOGIES, INC. announced today that it has been awarded an additional $750,000 Phase II Small Business Innovation Research contract from the U.S. Air Force to advance the development of a silicon carbide electronic motor controller. The focus of the two year effort will be to improve the power density and packaging of previous generations of silicon carbide power modules developed in other Air Force programs. Coincident with this project the Company will convert a conventional pickup truck to all-electric operation using a motor controller containing the higher power silicon carbide modules being developed. The operating results of the testbed will then be compared to those of other all-electric pickup truck testbeds operating with earlier generations of the silicon carbide modules.
The controller is being developed for the USAF Advanced Power Technology Office of the 542nd Combat Sustainment Wing at Robins Air Force Base in cooperation with the U.S. Army National Automotive Center and Mississippi State University.
Commenting on the award, Jon Lutz, UQM Technologies’ Director of Engineering said, “This project creates another opportunity to showcase our 160 horsepower propulsion system and advance the commercial prospects of silicon carbide power modules by reducing their size and improving power density. Improvements in power density and packaging are important attributes in reducing the production cost of the modules and their potential to achieve commercial success.”