New Industry Products

UQM Debuts All-Electric Zero Emission Medium Duty Truck Powered By PowerPhase™ Electric Propulsion System

May 11, 2008 by Jeff Shepard

UQM Technologies, Inc. is demonstrating the ZeroTruck,™ an all-electric zero emission medium duty truck powered by a UQM® PowerPhase™ electric propulsion system.

The ZeroTruck, being developed by Electrorides, Inc., is said to be the first electric truck in its class to be offered for sale in the United States in 2008. The ZeroTruck offers a low cab forward design, a fully automated transmission, 100 mile range with full highway capability, lithium polymer batteries, an onboard battery charger and regenerative braking. The ZeroTruck will travel on a national tour to major cities in the United States.

The ZeroTruck features a UQM PowerPhase 150kW (201 horsepower) electric propulsion system that produces peak torque of 650 N-m and peak power of 150kW. 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, and system energy efficiency of over 90% across substantially all of its performance regime.

"The UQM PowerPhase 150 electric propulsion system delivers spectacular performance with range enhancing efficiency that is ideal for our all-electric medium duty truck," said Tedd Abramson, President and CEO of Electrorides, Inc. "We believe there is a substantial market for the ZeroTruck in the United States, and we hope to roll-out the first vehicles in the Los Angeles area later this year."

"We are pleased that another electric vehicle maker has selected our PowerPhase 150 propulsion system to power their vehicle. This recently introduced system has rapidly become the system of choice for medium duty truck and bus developers. We are excited about the potential for the ZeroTruck and for the opportunity to power this emission free medium duty truck," said William G. Rankin, UQM Technologies’ President and CEO.