UQM-Powered Proterra Transit Bus Passes Rigorous FTA New Model Bus Testing Program

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UQM-Powered Proterra Transit Bus Passes Rigorous FTA New Model Bus Testing Program

  • Proterra EcoRide™ BE35 is the first heavy-duty electric bus to pass FTA Altoona bus testing

  • Well-known Altoona testing encompasses safety, structural integrity and durability, reliability, performance, maintainability, noise and fuel economy

  • Proterra buses are powered by UQM PowerPhase HD® electric drive systems

LONGMONT, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- UQM Technologies, Inc. (NYSE MKT: UQM) congratulates Proterra on having the first heavy-duty electric transit bus to successfully complete the rigorous Federal Transit Administration (FTA) New Model Bus Testing Program with its EcoRide™ BE35 transit bus. This series of battery-electric vehicles is powered by UQM PowerPhase HD® electric drive systems.


"Proterra's success in these tests further validates the reliability and performance of our vehicle electrification systems, while also highlighting the advantages of all-electric and hybrid-electric mass transit vehicles," said Eric R. Ridenour, UQM Technologies' President and Chief Operating Officer.

The Proterra EcoRide BE35 transit bus completed the FTA New Model Bus Testing Program, often referred to as "Altoona testing" due to the location of the primary test facility in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The program includes a series of tests to simulate a 12-year/500,000 mile service life that encompasses safety, structural integrity and durability, reliability, performance, maintainability, noise and fuel economy.

"We're proud to have passed this milestone test with the Proterra EcoRide BE35, and continue to move toward expanding the deployment of Proterra transit buses," said David Bennett, Proterra's Chief Executive Officer. "The UQM PowerPhase electric drive system helped us achieve both the highest fuel economy and lowest noise of any full-size passenger bus ever tested."

Portions of the FTA test that were impacted by the performance of the UQM electric drive system includes:

  • Maintainability - Servicing, Preventive Maintenance, and Repair and Maintenance During Testing

  • Reliability - Documentation of Breakdown and Repair Times During Testing

  • Performance - Acceleration, Gradeability, Top Speed, and Braking Performance

  • Fuel Economy Test - A Fuel Consumption Test Using an Appropriate Driving Cycle

  • Noise - Interior and Exterior Noise Tests

  • Emissions

For more information about the FTA New Model Bus Testing Program, please visit http://www.fta.dot.gov/12351_4584.html.

About Proterra

With manufacturing in Greenville, S.C., Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast-charging stations. Proterra's systems are scalable to commercial buses of all sizes. Its ground-up designs have led to the EcoRide, the world's first full-size, 10-minute charge transit bus. While a young company, Proterra combines the best of start-up mentality and aggressiveness, combined with a highly talented and tenured team and the stability of a solid core of financial support from influential investors, such as Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, a leading Silicon Valley-based venture capital private equity firm; General Motors Ventures; Mitsui & Co. Global Investment, Inc., one of the largest investment firms in Japan; Vision Ridge Partners LLC, a Boston-based business that invests in transformative growth companies focused on sustainability; and 88 Green Ventures, an investment and asset management firm that assists emerging green companies. For more information on Proterra and its technology, please visit: www.proterra.com.

About UQM

UQM Technologies is a developer and manufacturer of power-dense, high-efficiency electric motors, generators and power electronic controllers for the automotive, commercial truck, bus and military markets. A major emphasis for UQM is developing propulsion systems for electric, hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric and fuel cell electric vehicles. UQM is located in Longmont, Colorado. Please visit www.uqm.com for more information.

This Release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act. These statements appear in a number of places in this Release and include statements regarding our plans, beliefs or current expectations, including those plans, beliefs and expectations of our officers and directors with respect to, among other things, future orders to be received, future financial results and the continued growth of the electric-powered vehicle industry. Important Risk Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements are contained in our Form 10-Q filed July 31, 2012, which is available through our website atwww.uqm.comor atwww.sec.gov.



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