Company Says Off-the-Shelf Electric Motors Can Help Cut Hybrid Costs
By John O'Dell October 6, 2009
Remy International has unveiled its first "off-the-shelf" motor (right) designed for hybrid vehicles, the first of a series of new motors as the company - the largest U.S.-based supplier of electric motors for hybrids - boosts production capacity with a recent $60 million grant from the U.S. government.
Remy said it expects to be able to manufacture 100,000 of its new HVH250 electric motors at factories in North American and Europe and is designing others to broaden its reach into the car, truck and heavy-equipment hybrid markets.
The company believes standardized hybrid motors will be welcomed by auto makers because they will help lower the cost of hybrid vehicles.
"The premium cost associated with hybrid vehicles is a major factor affecting hybrid adoption in the U.S. The highly engineered components have been produced in low volumes, resulting in a higher per unit cost," said John Weber, chief executive officer of the Pendleton, Indiana-based company.
Remy and partner Phoenix International, a unit of John Deere, were awarded a $60.2 million grant from the U.S. Energy Department in August to develop standardized versions of hybrid-electric motors and controls.
Remy, formerly Delco Remy, was founded in 1918 as a General Motors division. It was split off from GM in 1994 as Delco Remy and given its present name in 2004.
Danny King, Contributor
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