MONTEREY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The KleenSpeed Technologies EV-X11 team quietly but forcefully set a new lap record for an electric race car during the 3rd annual REFUEL - Clean Power Motorsports Event at MAZDA Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. One of the key changes the team made to the EV-X11 in preparation for this competition was the installation of a UQM Technologies (NYSE Amex: UQM) PowerPhase Select 145 electric drive system. This is the second performance record set by a UQM powered vehicle this week, with the SWIGZ.COM Pro Racing electric motorcycle breaking the previous record time during the 89th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
“The EV-X11 benefitted from the same advantages that our systems offer production vehicle manufacturers: a power-dense design, compact packaging, exceptional torque delivery and more efficient use of electrical power,” said Eric Ridenour, President and Chief Executive Officer of UQM Technologies. “We offer the KleenSpeed team our congratulations on this record as they continue to demonstrate and raise awareness for the performance capability of electric vehicles.”
The EV-X11 set a new lap record of 1:38.858. This was nearly four seconds better than last year’s record of 1:42.5 which was set by KleenSpeed’s prior model, the WX-10, at ReFuel in 2010.
"The KleenSpeed EV-X11 was considerably faster than last year’s car, with much better acceleration and overall speed due to the completely new KleenSpeed electric power system incorporating a more powerful UQM electric motor and controller,” said Tim Collins, President of KleenSpeed Technologies. “This new system is not only more powerful and sophisticated; it is also much lighter, which offers many additional benefits.”
The team reported that they were only using 65 percent of the available torque when they set this record as they assess the performance potential of the new electric-drive system.
“The new UQM PowerPhase Select 145 gave us more power, less weight, complete programmability and better power management,” said Dante Zeviar, Chief Technology Officer of KleenSpeed Technologies.
Collins started driving and selling go karts when he attended University of Colorado. He graduated from University of Denver. At 71 years young, his racing credentials include the World Go Kart Championship in Nassau Bahamas, the Cooper Formula Jr. Series, 2008 class winner of the San Francisco SCCA Region CSR C Sports Racer and a podium finish in the American LeMans IMSA Lites Race. In addition, Collins started and owned the Denver Spurs Hockey Team.
About KleenSpeed Technologies
KleenSpeed Technologies is a three-year-old company with a primary focus on R&D in the EV technology area. KleenSpeed is located in the NASA Ames Research Park near Mountain View, California. KleenSpeed is moving to develop innovative solutions in the following areas:
• EPS - Electric Propulsion Systems
• ESS - Energy Storage Systems
•
EVI - Electric Vehicle Systems Integration
In addition to the development of the EV-X11 race car as a test bed for its systems and components, KleenSpeed is working on many different classes of EV systems for vehicles of various size, scale and functionality. The company is in the process of developing partnerships and consulting relationships with leading companies.
About UQM Technologies, Inc.
UQM Technologies is a developer and manufacturer of power-dense, high-efficiency electric motors, generators and power electronic controllers for the automotive, aerospace, military and industrial markets. A major emphasis for UQM is developing products for the alternative-energy technologies sector, including propulsion systems for electric, hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric and fuel cell electric vehicles, under-the-hood power accessories and other vehicle auxiliaries. UQM headquarters, engineering, product development center and manufacturing operation are located in Longmont, Colorado.
Please visit www.uqm.com for more information.
This Release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act. These statements appear in a number of places in this Release and include statements regarding our plans, beliefs or current expectations, including those plans, beliefs and expectations of our officers and directors with respect to, among other things, orders to be received under our supply agreement with CODA Automotive, our ability to successfully expand our manufacturing facilities, and the continued growth of the electric-powered vehicle industry. Important Risk Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements are contained in our Form 10-K filed June 2, 2011, which is available through our website at www.uqm.com or at www.sec.gov.