UQM Technologies PowerPhase®125 Electric Propulsion System Powers Citroen C4 Hybrid World Rally Car

FREDERICK, Colo.--UQM Technologies, Inc. (NYSE Amex: UQM), a developer of alternative energy technologies, announced today that its PowerPhase® 125 electric propulsion system is powering the Citroen C4 Hybrid Rally Car currently being tested by Citroen Racing.

First shown at the Paris and then Bologna and Geneva Motorshows, the Citroen C4 WRC Hybrid4 made its debut on the road in Finland before that country’s world rally car round in a slow speed demonstration. Subsequent testing in Faro, Portugal was the first at rally speeds and under rally conditions. The C4 Hybrid was developed using Citroen’s WRC championship contender as a base and adding a 990 cell lithium ion battery and a UQM® Powerphase® 125 electric propulsion system which drives the rear wheels.

“This system, developed by Citroen Racing, allows the driver to choose between four different modes of functionality,” explains Didier Clement, one of the race engineers behind the project. “In internal combustion mode, the C4 WRC Hybrid4 behaves exactly like one of the C4 WRC cars that compete on the World Rally Championship. In internal combustion mode, with energy recovery mode switched on, braking endurance is improved and the batteries get charged. On road sections and in the service park, electric mode with energy recovery means that there is less nuisance, increased range and less wear on the conventional engine. Finally, in boost mode - which employs both the internal combustion engine and the electric motor - gives an extra 300 Nm of torque when engaged.”

The two engines are linked to the same drivetrain. The driver can choose electric mode simply by switching on the ignition without starting the internal combustion engine. The gearbox paddles then gives the driver a choice of three settings: forward, backwards and neutral.

Didier Raso, an electrical and systems engineer for Citroen commented, “The objective with this project was to be able to use the electric motor to drive on some of the road sections. This fully operational concept responds to that design brief. Citroen Racing wanted to show its ability to adapt this technology to motorsport. If at any point in the future the regulations permit the use of hybrid technology, we will be able to react straight away.”

William G. Rankin, UQM Technologies President and Chief Executive Officer said, “We are pleased that Citroen Racing has selected a UQM® PowerPhase® propulsion system to power their advanced technology WCR. The high performance of our electric propulsion systems is ideally suited for the demands of a racing vehicle, and we are excited to be a part of this program.”

UQM Technologies, Inc. is a developer and manufacturer of power dense, 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 developing products for the alternative energy technologies sector including propulsion systems for electric, hybrid electric and fuel cell electric vehicles, under-the-hood power accessories and other vehicle auxiliaries and distributed power generation applications. The Company's headquarters, engineering and product development center, and manufacturing operation are located in Frederick, Colorado. For more information on the Company, please visit its website at www.uqm.com.