Green Lite Motors of Portland, Ore. has developed a two-seat, hybrid gas-electric, three-wheeled vehicle that delivers ultra-high efficiency (attaining 100 miles-per-gallon) but offers the safety features and comfort of a standard passenger car. Green Lite Motors was selected as one of the three most promising clean-tech start-ups in the Pacific Northwest through the Clean Tech Open competition in 2009. The company will be working with Oregon BEST researchers James Long, Hugh Currin, and James Zipay at the Oregon Institute of Technology to research and develop the electronics, software, and hardware that will enable the vehicle’s existing electric motor and gas engine to work in combination off a single throttle to optimize efficiency and performance. This is the last critical element in creating a fully functional prototype, and will position the company to obtain private investment capital for commercialization.
 
“Our team is excited to work with Oregon Tech to apply their control systems and hybrid drive experience,” said Tim Miller, President and CEO of Green Lite Motors. “With Oregon BEST’s support, we’ll develop this key piece of our innovative vehicle and be on the path toward job creation here in Oregon.”

“This project with Green Lite Motors will realize a commercialization opportunity resulting from five years of applied research,” said professor James Long of Oregon Tech. “With help from Oregon BEST and Tom Chester of the Oregon Renewable Energy Center, we will move into the electric vehicle arena with a positive contribution to the Oregon Economy.”