UQM PowerPhase125 Electric Car Motors

by Tom Villars
(Washington DC)

UQM Powerphase EV Motor Inside!

I'm interested in investing in UQM and would like to hear your opinion on their new product the PowerPhase125.

In quantities of over 200,000/year they are quoting a price of $1418 for both the motor and controller. I'm not an expert but their spec sheet seems to address many of the concerns you've raised about DC motors. Is this a viable alternative for a mass produced EVs?


Hi, Tom -
Is it a viable alternative? Yes, I think it is.

Toyota must have thought so, too, because this is the same type of motor they put in their Rav-4 EV back in the day.

The UQM Powerphase motors are brushless per-mag motors which - as I look at the spec sheet (pdf) - have qualities of the AC motor and also qualities of the DC motor. The torque curve looks like a typical golf cart motor, but when powered by 300 or so volts, it just feels like a rocket. Who cares that it tops out at 75 mph or thereabouts?

I really, really like what little I've seen so far - like this gorgeous Lotus Elise conversion with the UQM Powerphase 75 inside. (The difference between the 75 and the 125 is that the 125 is more powerful - but basically the same motor.)

As far as investing based on my opinion? I really liked Phoenix Motorcars and those Altair NanoSafe batteries, too - didn't keep them from going bankrupt.
Shows you what I know; )

Regards,
Lynne