News

SatCon to Develop HEV Technology for US Army

May 23, 2002 by Jeff Shepard

SatCon Technology Corp. (Cambridge, MA) announced that it has been awarded contracts with a total value of $1.5 million to develop power electronics and advanced materials technologies for hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs). The first effort is to demonstrate the cost and reliability benefits of silicon-carbide-based inverters for HEVs. The second effort is for a continuously variable transmission that employs SatCon's patent-pending magnetorheological fluid technology for use with in-wheel motors used in HEVs. Both contracts are with the US Army.

"These are novel technologies," said David Eisenhaure, SatCon's president and CEO. "In a way, they represent the future of hybrid-electric vehicles. The Army has long been a supporter of developing technologies for new hybrid-electric vehicles. These contracts are concentrated on developing new materials that can be used to improve vehicle performance in harsh environments while reducing overall costs."