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CalMotors Partners With Parker Hannifin on Hybrid and Electric Powertrains

Calmotors3
CalMotors, powered by Parker. Click to enlarge.

CalMotors, makers of high performance hybrid (series and parallel) and electric powertrains, has formed a strategic alliance with Parker Hannifin Corporation to produce fully integrated powertrain solutions for the automotive and marine industries. Parker can provide motors, inverters, systems design and manufacturing.

In addition to developing fully integrated powertrains, CalMotors has also designed, engineered, fabricated and tested several advanced technology vehicles for military, commercial, and consumer applications. Ruf engaged CalMotors to combine the lithium-ion batteries with the motor for its electric Porsche, as an example. (Earlier post.)

For years, we have searched for a manufacturing partner that could adhere to our uncompromising standards for quality and performance, and after two years of discussions with Parker, we believe that not only have we found a manufacturer with the best record of quality, but also an agile and forward-thinking company ready to move quickly as we lead the industry with our high performance hybrid and electric powertrain products.

—Mike Kasaba, CEO of CalMotors
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CalMotors peak torque capability by model. Click to enlarge.

CalMotors groups its Integrated Traction Drive Systems into five basic classifications:

  • Subcompact, compact, and other lightweight applications requiring 75kW or less
  • Mid-size and Full-Size cars, small trucks, and other applications between 75kW and 150kW
  • Single-speed and multi-speed sports car applications between 150kW and 250kW
  • Delivery trucks, transit buses and other applications requiring 150kW to 300kW
  • Class 8 trucks, excavating equipment, and other applications requiring 300kW or more

Each integrated system includes the following:

  • Traction Drive Control
  • Traction Motor (permanent magnet or AC induction)
  • Powertrain Control Module (PCM) for user inputs, CAN communication, and hybrid control
  • GUI laptop interface to control system
  • Information Display for vehicle prototyping and testing
  • Generator motor and controller (hybrid systems only)
  • Engine throttle servo control (hybrid systems only)

Parker Hannifin also develops hydraulic hybrid systems. (Earlier post.)

With annual sales exceeding US$12 billion in 2008, Parker Hannifin is the world’s leading diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems, providing precision-engineered solutions for a wide variety of commercial, mobile, industrial, and aerospace markets.

Comments

SJC

Parker has been big in hydraulics for a long time. It is good to see partnerships among companies that can each bring something to the solution. Maybe we will see more efficient trucks and buses out of this as well.

SJC

I contacted them for price quotes, they would not give them. I have no idea how companies are suppose to evaluate them without budgetary quotes. Best of luck to them.

RyanD1981

SJC, which "them"? Parker, CalMotors, or both?

SJC

CalMotors refused to quote. I mentioned that UQM gave me a quote and the response was essentially "so?".

RyanD1981

UQM states in it's FAQ that they don't work anyone but OEM's. Were you pricing the motors and drives for a conversion, or trying to get a whole vehicle?

SJC

They showed motors and controllers for sale, so I asked CalMotors for a budgetary quote. This is a non-binding number that allows people to evaluate if the product is expensive or competitive. Mike Kasaba, CEO of CalMotors responded that they do not make quotes like that. I find that odd, but that is the way it is.

CalMotors

I remember exchanging emails with RyanD1981. The request that came in from him had no details on the application. As I said in my message to him, I would be more than happy to provide a quote, but we need to know details on the application. We do not want to sell motor systems without knowing the application. It has been our experience that if we do not discuss the application first, there is a chance that the customer might purchase the wrong system and be dissatisfied with their purchsae. This is our primary concern. Again, I would be more than happy to provide a quote if we could first discuss your program.

Thanks for your understanding.

Mike Kasaba
CEO
CalMotors

IanBruce

Oh, snap!

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