UQM Technologies, Inc. (UQM), a US-based developer of alternative energy technologies, said that it’s PowerPhase 125 electric propulsion system is powering the Citroen C4 Hybrid Rally Car from Citroen, a unit of PSA Peugeot Citroen SA. The C4 Hybrid is presently being tested by Citroen Racing. The C4 Hybrid was developed using Citroen's WRC championship contender as a base and adding a 990 cell lithium ion battery and a Powerphase 125 electric propulsion system that drives the rear wheels.
The Citroen C4 WRC Hybrid4 was first shown at the Paris and then Bologna and Geneva Motor shows, and then it made its first appearance on the road in Finland before that country’s world rally car round in a slow speed demonstration. Consequent testing in Faro, Portugal was the first at rally speeds and under rally conditions.
“This system, developed by Citroen Racing, allows the driver to choose between four different modes of functionality,” states Didier Clement, one of the race engineers behind the project. “In internal combustion mode, the C4 WRC Hybrid4 behaves exactly like one of the C4 WRC cars that compete on the World Rally Championship. In internal combustion mode, with energy recovery mode switched on, braking endurance is improved and the batteries get charged. On road sections and in the service park, electric mode with energy recovery means that there is less nuisance, increased range and less wear on the conventional engine. Finally, in boost mode – which employs both the internal combustion engine and the electric motor – gives an extra 300 Nm of torque when engaged.”
The two engines are linked to the same drivetrain. The driver can select the electric mode by simply switching on the ignition without starting the internal combustion engine. The gearbox paddles then gives the driver a choice of three settings: forward, backwards and neutral.
Didier Raso, an electrical and systems engineer for Citroen stated, “The objective with this project was to be able to use the electric motor to drive on some of the road sections. This fully operational concept responds to that design brief. Citroen Racing wanted to show its ability to adapt this technology to motorsport. If at any point in the future the regulations permit the use of hybrid technology, we will be able to react straight away.”
William G. Rankin, UQM’s president and chief executive officer stated, “We are pleased that Citroen Racing has selected a UQM PowerPhase propulsion system to power their advanced technology WCR. The high performance of our electric propulsion systems is ideally suited for the demands of a racing vehicle, and we are excited to be a part of this program.”