The experimental switch locomotive has the potential to reduce air pollution, is not dependent on oil for fuel, and could serve as a mobile backup power source for military and civilian disaster relief efforts. At 127 tonne (280,000 lb), continuous power of 220-250 kilowatts from its proton exchange membrane fuel cell power plant, and transient power well in excess of one megawatt, the switch locomotive will be the heaviest and most powerful fuel cell land vehicle yet.

“As a nation, we face two significant issues, global climate change and energy insecurity, both of which have a common factor – oil,” said Arnold Miller, President of Vehicle Projects LLC. “The world burns millions of barrels of oil for energy, and the waste carbon is then emitted to the atmosphere. Because fuel cells don’t rely on oil as a fuel source, they solve these two issues. Along with our principal partners, we are developing proof-of-concept hydrogen fuel cell vehicles that are leading the way to this new technology.”

“We are pleased that Vehicle Projects LLC has again selected one of our technologically advanced permanent magnet motors for a cutting-edge vehicle. Our systems excel in demanding applications such as this where power density and efficiency are required to achieve optimal system operating performance,” said William G. Rankin, President and Chief Executive Officer of UQM Technologies, Inc.

UQM Technologies, Inc. is a developer and manufacturer of power dense, high efficiency electric motors, generators and power electronic controllers for the automotive, aerospace, medical, military and industrial markets. A major emphasis of the Company 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 and distributed power generation applications. The Company's headquarters, engineering and product development center, and motor manufacturing operation are located in Frederick, Colorado. For more information on the Company, please visit its worldwide website at www.uqm.com.

Vehicle Projects LLC (since 1998) serves heavy industry and transport by developing and demonstrating prototype fuel cell vehicles that improve productivity, worker health and safety, environmental quality, or energy efficiency and security. Its core in-house activities are project conception and fundraising, vehicle engineering design, and consortium organization and management. For more information about Vehicle Projects, please visit www.fuelcellpropulsion.org.