Press Conference Introducing Raser's Series PHEV Electric Drive System

April 14th 2008, SAE World Congress, Detroit Michigan
 

Transcript From Press Conference Introducing Raser's Series PHEV Electric Drive System

Hello and welcome to Raser’s Press Conference with FEV. We are excited to be here today to introduce our new electric powertrain and demonstration vehicle we developed with our integration partner, FEV.

First, I would like to say how please we are with our partnership with FEV on the great project.
In my 28 years of experience in the automotive industry, I have met very few companies with the professionalism, expertise and team spirit as FEV. It is truly a privilege of working with them.

I would like to take a minute to introduce Raser Technologies as a company to you.

  1. Raser is located at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in Provo, UT. We are a public company traded under the ticker symbol RZ. Raser is a Green focused technology licensing and development company operating in two business segments
     
  2. Those segments are:
  • 1st - Power Systems Business Segment for the
    development and operation of green renewable
    geothermal power generation. We plan to build and produce geothermal power generation plants with the 100MW a year for the next three years and then 150MW each year after.
  • 2nd- What we are here to discuss today – Transportation and Industrial business segment. This brings to the purpose to this press conference – to introduce Raser’s Electric Powertrain which is being incorporated within the PHEV project, shown in this animation video.


Let me share some of the highlights of this vehicle:
Raser’s new electric powertrain and hybrid system control technology has been designed use as a Plug in Series Hybrid Architecture in a full size SUV with a major OEM. It is intended for use in extended-range plug-in hybrid for consumer and fleet operations.

It is designed to allow the owners of such vehicles:

  • To drive 40 miles in all-electric mode under battery power, with near zero emissions.
  • To not use fossil-based fuel or leave a carbon footprint during most days for the average American driver.
  • On 60-80 mile trips, we expect to Average over 100 miles per gallon fuel consumption even in full-size fleet SUVs and Pick up trucks that Americans like to drive.
  • Fun to drive – acceleration rates equal to or better than the vehicle with the original equipped engine
  • To drive as far as today’s ICE-powered vehicles without limitations of stopping to recharge
  • These vehicles will have the ability to offer up to 50 kW of exportable power from the onboard generator, a feature highly valued by utility and other fleet owners.
  • This system can be easily integrated into other vehicles of similar size or modified for lighter or heavier vehicles

This can be accomplished by driving the vehicle’s wheels solely with an efficient AC electric traction motor, powered by powerful new lithium-ion based batteries.

The batteries can be charges from a standard 110 or 220V outlet at the equivalent fuel cost of $.60 / gallon or charged by the onboard advanced, highly-efficient PM generator or range extender. This generator is driven by a small, highly-efficient internal combustion engine operating near its peak efficiency areas. Since the ICE is not responsible for accelerating and maintaining the vehicle speed, this can improve the overall average efficiency of the ICE from the typical 15 - 20% range to around 30% and will only run for short periods to re-charge the batteries. This will also be supplemented by regenerative energy captured during braking and deceleration.

Minimizing the amount, weight and cost of the batteries is very important to attain a 40 mile driving range cost-effectively. Besides regeneration, this is accomplished by:

  • Employing a 700V battery systems and electrical propulsion architecture allowing elimination of the heavy DC-DC converter usually found in other electric and hybrid-electric vehicles
  • Employing Raser’s highly-efficient and torque dense electric powertrain systems based on its award-winning Symetron™ electric motor and power electronic drive/controller technology.

Raser expects to be able to further extend the all-electric driving range by up to 50 percent in the near future by reducing the weight of:

  • The batteries due to ongoing battery technology improvements
  • The electric powertrain due to continuing technology developments in the traction motor and its power electronic drive and by minimizing the weight of the other hybrid drive system components
  • The motor, drive and battery secondary cooling systems
  • Refining the onboard charging and exportable power systems

Here is a description of the Raser Powertrain Components

Generator
Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine

  • ~ 95% Efficiency
  • 4000 RPM maximum (may be higher)
  • 100 kW (135hp) Continuous to charge batteries and supply the traction motor
  • 320 Nm up to 3100 RPM
  • Liquid Cooled Water Jacket
  • Dimensions - 9.5”L x 13.5”OD

Traction Motor
Induction Motor with Symetron Enhancements

  • 93-94% Efficiency
  • 10,000 RPM maximum
  • 200 kW (270hp) Peak, 100 kW (135hp) Continuous
  • 415 Nm up to 4600 RPM
  • Liquid Cooled
  • Dimensions - 18” L x 11” OD

The Controller/Power Electronics Module
Dual Inverter for driving both machines simultaneously

  • Compact Packaging with Double Sided Liquid Cooled
    Cool two inverters using one manifold
  • Will use High current film capacitor conduction cooled to replace electrolytic for longer life and compact size
  • DSP-based (digital signal processing) with floating point
  • Co-developing with a Free Scale MPC555X processor (potential benefit is to include the entire vehicle – VCU to reduce and improve performance)
  • State of the art Field oriented control with Symetron real time efficiency optimization
  • Dimensions 14”L x 8.5”H x 13” W
  • Rugged design for automotive applications

It is our intention to announce and demonstration this vehicle with the OEM (that we are currently under contract to develop this) at a major automotive this show as early as the third quarter this year. The announcement will be decided in coordination with the OEM based on strategic perspective and expediency.

 
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including, but not limited to, statements regarding: our beliefs about the performance and market applicability of our products; our beliefs about the status and enforceability of the Company’s intellectual property; our beliefs about the strength of our existing and potential business relations in the motor industry; our beliefs about the strength and enforceability of our agreements, our beliefs about the performance capabilities of our technology; our beliefs about the capabilities, expertise and intentions of our partners; our ability to hire, train and retain key personnel; our ability to successfully complete field testing of Symetron™ technologies. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ, including, without limitation, the competitive environment and our ability to compete in the industry; the strength of our intellectual property; our inability to attract, train and retain key personnel; and such other risks as identified in our quarterly report on Form 10-K for the quarter ended December 31, 2007, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and all subsequent filings. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.







"Raser has made an important advancement in AC induction motors, which represents a major step forward in the development of hybrid and fuel cell vehicles. As the author of the CLEAR ACT, the package of tax incentives for alternative fuel vehicles, I have had the goal of lowering the market barriers to the mass production of the best available automotive technologies. I believe that Raser's technology advancement will play an important role in achieving this goal."

Senator Orrin Hatch 

View the Press Release

 



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