UQM PowerPhase Pro 100 electric drive systems are powering a fleet of hydrogen fuel cell London taxicabs during the 2012 Olympic Games.
The distinctive London taxicabs are an iconic symbol in London, and a consortium of companies — Intelligent Energy, Lotus Engineering, TRW Conekt and London Taxi International — put a proposal together to develop hydrogen fuel cell taxicabs and approached the British government for research support and funding.
As a result of the proposal, a fleet of zero-emission fuel cell taxicabs was commissioned to transport athletes and dignitaries from around the world during the games. The cabs are powered by UQM’s PowerPhase Pro 100 electric drive system.
The UQM PowerPhase Pro 100 electric motor provides power to the rear wheels of the vehicle. A fuel cell system designed by Intelligent Energy works in conjunction with a high voltage battery pack and a UQM DC-to-DC converter to provide power for the vehicle. According to Intelligent Energy, the company plans to put the vehicles into full production after a successful test program in 2012.
This fleet joins another previously announced UQM-powered vehicle at the London 2012 Summer Olympics.
UQM’s PowerPhase electric propulsion systems have been selected to power CODA Automotive passenger cars, the Audi A-1 e-tron, Rolls-Royce 102EX Electric Phantom and EV Engineering pre-production test fleet vehicles. UQM is also powering Hino electric city buses, Proterra electric composite transit buses, Electric Vehicles International all-electric medium-duty truck and 100 walk-in delivery vans for UPS and Boulder EV delivery vans for Federal Express.
UQM’s manufacturing facility has 40,000 units of annual production capacity for its PowerPhase Pro electric propulsion systems.
