Both projects will be completed in-house and SymPowerco will retain all intellectual property associated with the projects.
The hybrid electric vehicles developed in the program will be used by SymPowerco as future test platforms for FEDMFC and for retrofit Hybrid Power Systems of varying designs.
SymPowerco has also included multiple power sources for the electric drive systems including multi-fuel small-displacement internal combustion engines to expand the original scope of the project. The electric vehicle prototypes will be designed to be compatible with virtually any prime power source.
SymPowerco said that its power sources will be designed to be interchangeable with each other according to varying consumer demands and applications.
SymPowerco has identified markets for hybrid electric drive systems including golf carts, small industrial vehicles, three-wheeled taxis in the Far East (Tuk-Tuks), motorbikes and similar small vehicles.
It is anticipated that hybrid electric vehicles will require as much as 70% less battery weight compared to plug-in electric vehicles. With batteries being constantly recharged by SymPowerco’s FEDMFC or other mobile power source, a golf cart could weigh as much as 200 pounds less than a plug-in golf cart and will operate by occasional refueling with a liquid fuel such as methanol.
