Aug 26 2009
Raser Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: RZ), an energy technology company, announced results from a recent test drive demonstrating over 50 miles of all-electric range by its electric Hummer H3E during a preliminary road test.
“I am very proud of our team and their work to reach this important milestone,” said Jim Spellman, Vice President of Business Development. “Battery range of this innovative vehicle was more than sufficient to exceed our performance target of 40 miles in all-electric mode. In fact the H3E drove over 50 miles using only approximately 60% of the battery pack. This initial test indicates that the vehicle should easily achieve over 100 miles per gallon in typical local daily driving. The positive results from this test indicate that we can downsize our battery pack, reducing cost and weight of the vehicle, and still achieve the 40 mile all-electric range needed for optimized typical driving.”
The course used for the test included a combination of city and highway driving with an average speed of 45 mph and with speeds up to 60 mph. The 40-mile electric-only range test is significant because a majority of Americans drive fewer than 40 miles a day. When driving beyond 40 miles, the vehicle’s range extender would automatically generate the electricity needed to drive up to 400 miles. The range extender consists of a small gas powered engine which kicks in only to re-charge the batteries.
“It’s important to note that Raser’s electric Hummer H3E can achieve similar results to the Chevy Volt,” added Mr. Spellman. “The main difference is that our electric powertrain can be used in larger vehicles, such as SUVs and trucks. In fact, if we were to employ the method we believe was used recently by GM to estimate city fuel economy for the Volt, the electric Hummer H3E could achieve more than 190 mpg in city driving using about 70% of the battery pack.”
“The Hummer performed beautifully with better than expected fuel economy and great acceleration,” said Kraig Higginson, Chairman, Raser Technologies. “Most importantly, it did all this with zero direct emissions running entirely on electricity.”
To view video documentation of this test-drive, click on this link http://www.rasertech.com/test-drive
Raser plans to conduct additional testing to demonstrate the vehicle’s estimated total range of up to 400 miles using the on-board range extender.
The electric Hummer H3E is a plug-in electric vehicle powered by Raser’s proprietary E-REV (extended range electric vehicle) powertrain. The new electric powertrain replaces the vehicle’s large gasoline engine with a powerful electric motor-drive system, Lithium Ion batteries and a small, efficient, gas/electric generator or “range extender. When driving less than 40 miles a day in a typical drive, the vehicle should actually use little or no gas with near zero emissions. The cost of electric fuel averages just about 60 cents per equivalent gallon or about one forth the cost of gasoline on average.
For more information on Raser’s electric Hummer H3, see http://rasertech.com/hummer