Press Release

BAT Announces Acquisition of U.S. Rights for AC Electric Drive System

11/26/96

B.A.T. International acquires U.S.  rights for innovative AC drive
system

burbank, calif.--(business wire) -- friday, b.a.t. international
(otc:baat) announced the signing of an exclusive licensing agreement
for the united states for a new ac drive system.

for the past six years, b.a.t. international has specialized in
manufacturing electric vehicles with dc drive systems.
b.a.t. international has set many benchmarks for electric vehicle (ev)
performance utilizing dc drives.

b.a.t. has refrained from moving to ac drives because of the very high
price and heavy weight of the control system. b.a.t. has also been
waiting for an ac drive system controller with the programmable
capability to control all of the functions that will be required by
future electric automobiles.

the new ac system is less than half the cost of other ac drive
systems, and substantially better in performance as a result of the
following features:

 very light weight (weighs a mere 10 kilograms for a 50 Kw unit)

 fully programmable

 fully integratable (set up to 110 parameters: windshield wipers to
ID codes)

 easy maintenance (detailed self-diagnostic features)

  
many safety features (no start, if plugged in, foot on gas, shut
off in accident, etc.)


     
The new AC system has other unique features, including a turbo boost
which can change the wave form of the electrical pulse to give the
vehicle operator an instant 20 percent power boost (similar to an
afterburner on a jet engine). However, this feature does reduce
efficiency during operation.

The new AC drive system is the key building block component in the
design of a set of hybrid electric vehicles that will be delivered to
the Hawaii Electric Vehicle Demonstration Project under a current
Department of Defense DARPA program grant.

In early 1997, B.A.T. will be establishing its wholesale component
division, which will market and distribute the AC drive system to
other EV-manufacturing companies.  This will include the charger and
other items, such as the DC converters.

It is also anticipated that B.A.T.'s new electric vehicle component
division will eventually include battery products such as its zinc-air
battery, which is scheduled to be manufactured at the end of 1997 by
B.A.T.'s Zinc-Air Transportation subsidiary.

B.A.T. plans to install the new AC drives in its 1997 model-year
electric vehicles. These drive systems are expected to lead to
dramatic improvements in performance, maintenance capabilities,
special features and safety interlocks. The first vehicles with the
new AC drive system will be available in about 3 months.

CONTACT: B.A.T. International | Bill Wason, 818/565-5555 |
818/565-5559 (fax) | http://www.bestweb.com/bat