Press Release

Electron Energy Corporation Awarded Department of Energy STTR Contract to Develop High Performance Permanent Magnets for Advanced Motors in Hybrid Electric Vehicles.

Landisville, PA, (September 21, 2007) — Electron Energy Corporation (EEC) has been awarded a Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) grant by the Department of Energy (DOE) to develop high temperature magnets for traction motors used in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in hybrids. The announcement was made by EEC President Michael H. Walmer.

Walmer said EEC was selected to meet Phase I requirements of a seven-month, $100,000 grant. Jinfang Liu, Ph.D., Director of Technology at EEC and an internationally-recognized researcher in rare earth magnet materials and systems, will be the principal investigator. EEC will collaborate with the University of Delaware on the project, led by Dr. George Hadjipanayis , the Richard B. Murrey Professor of Physics and Chair of the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Delaware.

“This research will ultimately lead to advanced motors for hybrid electric vehicles and other permanent magnet motor and generator applications that are more efficient, affordable, and competitive,” said Walmer. “We also hope to this research can help decrease dependence on sources of energy derived from fossil fuel, and reduce the purchase and operating costs of electromagnetic devices and vehicles.”

Eddy current losses in motors reduce their efficiency. Higher performance motors for hybrids and other applications need high temperature permanent magnets with reduced cost, eddy current loss, and higher coercivity. EEC’s innovative technical approach will lead to the reduction of eddy current loss in permanent magnet motors without sacrificing magnetic performance utilizing nano technology.

In addition to working with the DOE to develop high performance permanent magnets for HEV motors, EEC continues to develop magnet materials for microwave amplifiers, inertial guidance systems, motor and generator and other applications in the aerospace and military markets, said Peter C. Dent, EEC Director of Sales and Marketing.

EEC is the only US producer of rare earth magnets and is the only company in the world to produce ultra-high temperature SmCo magnets capable of operating continuously at temperatures up to 550 °C and has broad US patent protection for this technology. Since 1996, EEC has been granted 17 STTR or SBIR Phase I and Phase II programs, which resulted in three patents, as well as over 20 papers published in professional journals.

For more information about Electron Energy Corporation’s magnets, design engineering services and magnet assemblies and systems, call toll-free at 1-800-824-2735. Our staff of engineering specialists is available for free technical consultations.