UQM Receives Contract From Denver RTD

UQM Technologies Incorporated has received a contract from the Denver Regional Transportation District for one 35kW UQM® generator and two power electronic motor controllers to control the operation of the electric propulsion motors currently installed in a 45 foot hybrid electric mall shuttle bus. Denver RTD introduced its hybrid electric fleet of MallRide shuttles in 2000, the first large-scale deployment of hybrid electric buses for transit use in the United States.

A total of 36 MallRide shuttles operate on the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver, providing a free ride for passengers across the 1.3-mile-long mall connecting Denver Union Station and RTD Civic Center Station for express and regional RTD services.

The hybrid electric MallRide shuttle buses are powered by a compressed natural gas fueled 2.5 liter Ford industrial engine that operates at 2,200 r.p.m. to generate electricity to recharge the bank of batteries that power the shuttle. Regenerative braking is also used to recharge the battery pack. Each 45 foot MallRide shuttle bus can transport up to 116 passengers and features a low floor design (14 inches above street level) that makes it easier for passengers to step on and off the bus.

“We are pleased that Denver RTD is evaluating UQM® generators and motor controllers for use in their hybrid electric Mall Ride shuttle fleet. Our equipment is well-suited for this demanding application,” said William G. Rankin, President of UQM Technologies, Inc.

Denver Regional Transportation District is a public agency created in 1969 to operate a public transportation system serving the seven-county greater Denver metropolitan area.