Local Firm Wins $3 Million in Army Contracts

Photo Submitted

A high temperature silicon carbide power module developed by Arkansas Power Electronics International.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas Power Electronics International Inc., a small business headquartered at the Arkansas Research Technology Park at the University of Arkansas, has received two contracts totaling $3 million and funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The contracts were awarded by the U.S. Army and are expected to lead to creation of more than 25 high-tech engineering jobs at the company over the next three years.

The research is intended to improve the electronics systems in military vehicles, but those improvements could ultimately be used in consumer hybrid and electrical cars and trucks.

The first contract is for $1.2 million and came from the Army Research Laboratory. APEI will develop high efficiency light-weight power modules for the power electronics systems in future hybrid and electrical ground combat vehicles. The power electronics systems are essential to operation of the vehicles: they process and deliver power to the onboard computers, electronics and communications systems, weapons systems and electric motor traction drives. APEI’s power module technology is ten times smaller than existing systems and reduces electrical losses by more than 90 percent. APEI’s technology is intended to make Army combat vehicles stronger, more effective in combat, more maneuverable and able to carry larger payloads.

The company will also receive $1.8 million in the second contract, as part of a defense development project led by Science Applications International Corp. APEI will deliver silicon carbide power modules to Science Applications International to put into the power electronic test systems for a new generation of tanks. If successful, APEI’s new state-of-the-art silicon carbide power modules will replace today’s silicon-based modules in military vehicles, and ultimately in consumer hybrid and electric vehicles.

APEI is a company that has developed from research by a University of Arkansas engineering professor and has licensing rights to one university patent.