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Proterra Hybrid-Electric Transit Bus Powered by Electric Propulsion System Debuts


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FREDERICK, Colo., Oct. 2, 2008 - UQM TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (AMEX:UQM), a developer of alternative energy technologies, announced today that Proterra LLC, Golden, Colorado, will showcase the prototype of its HFC 35 composite body, zero-emission, battery-dominant hybrid-electric transit bus powered by a UQM® PowerPhase® 150 propulsion system at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) exposition in San Diego, California, October 6th through 8th.

The HFC35 transit bus’s ground-up design that seats 37 passengers was funded by the Federal Transit Authority (FTA) and features a lightweight composite body and an energy-efficient fuel cell hybrid-electric powertrain that qualifies the bus as a zero-emission vehicle, emitting only water from the tailpipe. The bus has been designed to accommodate a variety of auxiliary power units other than fuel cells, including diesel, gasoline and compressed natural gas fueled engines. The bus also incorporates the Company’s TerraVolt fast charge energy storage system, which includes proprietary battery modules and packs and a battery management and energy optimization system that has a useful life of 10,000 charge-discharge cycles and can be charged in a matter of minutes using a Proterra rapid charge station. The bus being displayed is scheduled to be put into service in the first quarter of 2009 in an FTA-sponsored nationwide trial starting in Columbia, South Carolina.

The HFC35 transit bus features a UQM® PowerPhase® 150 electric propulsion system that produces peak torque of 650 N-m and peak power of 150 kW (201 horsepower). The system has a continuous torque rating of 400 N-m and a continuous power rating of 100kW (134 horsepower). The system also features optimized four-quadrant performance, dynamic torque, speed and voltage control, regenerative braking and system energy efficiency of over 90 percent across substantially all of its performance regime.

“Transit officials across America are struggling with the challenge of meeting new emissions standards while facing higher fuel costs on smaller budgets. Our hybrid and battery-electric buses are the solution – they are both economical and earth-friendly,” said Jeff Granato, President of Proterra LLC. “The energy-efficient high-performance UQM® PowerPhase® 150 electric propulsion system is instrumental in providing the torque and power necessary to meet our performance objectives and we are looking forward to continuing our collaboration with UQM Technologies as we commercialize our transit bus platform and power system technology.”

“Proterra was the first customer to select our PowerPhase® 150 propulsion system last year following its introduction, capitalizing on our technology advancement that allowed us to deliver 50 percent greater power from our largest propulsion system without increasing its size or weight. The Proterra HFC35 transit bus, with its sleek composite body and novel battery-dominant hybrid-electric powerplant is sure to attract significant interest at the exhibition,” said William G. Rankin, UQM Technologies’ President and CEO. “We are pleased Proterra has selected our systems for this program and look forward to supplying their future motor and power electronic product requirements.”