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Integrated Electric Traction System--Unique Mobility, Inc., 425 Corporate Circle, Golden, CO 80401-5635; 303-278-2002
Mr. Jon R. Lutz, Principal Investigator
Mr. Donald A. French, Business Official
DOE Grant No. DE-FG03-98ER82704
Amount: $750,000
The Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) program is seeking cost-reduction and power-density-improvement ideas regarding electric drive motors. One of the contenders, the brushless, permanent-magnet motor, demonstrates superior performance. This project will improve the cost-effectiveness and packaging of this motor by reducing drive-system-part count and size. This will be accomplished by integrating the gear reduction and differential into the electric motor itself. Phase I conceptualized and sized componentry through extensive CAD tools, showing that the integrated system concept is indeed achievable. The drive system concept demonstrated a level of integration and shared componentry that is currently unmatched in this industry. A production cost-analysis was also performed. In Phase II, the detailed design will be completed, and a full-scale prototype will be built and tested. PNGV and automakers’ specifications will be used to define system goals. After the initial system is tested, the system design will be refined, and the final hardware package will be built and tested.
Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The compact, in-line transaxle configuration should result in substantial cost and packaging advantages to automotive OEMs.