Industry Consortium Established For Onboard Powernet Standards

    MUNICH, Germany & VANCOUVER, B.C.--Jan. 26, 2001--

    Audi, BMW, Infineon, Yamar Electronics, and iQ POWER Initiate
    Powerline Communications Consortium to Simplify Cable Networks
    Within Motor Vehicles

    iQ POWER Technology Inc. (OTCBB:IQPR) announced today that the Company has been appointed manager of the new DC-BUS Consortium formed with Audi, BMW, PSA Peugeot-Citroen, Infineon Technologies (the Siemens semiconductor manufacturing subsidiary) and YAMAR Electronics for the purpose of addressing the reduction of costs and the simplification of automotive cabling through the use of "power line communications technology."
    The objective of the DC-BUS initiative is to create a new, international standard that is compatible with the data protocols used in today's automobiles; a standard that will function both with the currently used 14V systems as well as the 24V onboard electrical systems of the future. The new DC-BUS technology will become available in the future in the form of an open standard to all companies in the automotive sector. The technology for the new standard is based on the patented DC data bus developed by YAMAR Electronics in Israel. YAMAR, in turn, has a strategic agreement with iQ POWER that establishes iQ as the only company entitled to use the YAMAR technology in conjunction with its intelligent car battery. The DC-BUS allows data transfer rates in excess of 250 kilobits per second over automotive power lines. Comprehensive and detailed tests conducted by car makers confirm the technical and economic benefits of this technology. It is expected that by the end of this year, Infineon Technologies will present the first pre-production DC-BUS electronic modules. This will be followed by the introduction of a full production series module to be presented by a core group of five or six automotive companies, as well as iQ POWER and YAMAR Electronics.
    Dr. Germar Triftshauser, BMW's Powerline Communication Project Manager stated that, "BMW sees the DC-BUS and the related Alliance as a clear step forward toward open systems in automobiles. The technical implementation of the DC-BUS and the founding of the Alliance are therefore regarded by BMW as having great significance, and the emergence of the DC-BUS Alliance represents an advance toward the standardization of automotive bus protocols."
    The Consortium is in discussions with other manufacturers including Daimler Chrysler, Fiat, Ford, GM, Renault, Volkswagen and heavy vehicle manufacturers MAN and Mack Truck with a view to expanding its membership.
    For further information on the Consortium, please refer to the BMW Group Corporate Communications announcement of January 25, 2001.

iQ POWER Technology Inc. signed "Peter Braun" President

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ABOUT iQ POWER

    iQ POWER is engaged in the development and commercialization of advanced NEXT GENERATION BATTERY and SMART ENERGY MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY that incorporates internal micro-electronics to monitor and control the environment and operation of the battery as part of an integrated automotive electronic system.