Delphi and TotalFinaElf Partner to Further Advance Fuel Cell Technology

    PARIS, May 14 Delphi Automotive Systems is
continuing its pursuit of advanced fuel cell development for automotive and
non-automotive applications, and today announced a co-development agreement
with TotalFinaElf to collaborate on the research and testing of fuel cell
technologies and fuel reformation.  The goal of the partnership is to better
understand the impact of fuel composition and additives on the performance of
fuel reforming devices.
    
    The co-development agreement began April 9, 2001.  Research and testing
will take place at Delphi's Rochester, N.Y. technical center and at
TotalFinaElf's European facilities.

    "The agreement with TotalFinaElf provides Delphi with significant support
in terms of testing and technical knowledge of fuel sources and fluid
options," said Guy C. Hachey, president, Delphi Energy & Chassis Systems.
"Our expertise in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology and TotalFinaElf's
expertise in the refining and marketing of fuel products and additives will
lead to discovery and development that will benefit both organizations," said
Hachey.

    "This cooperation is a unique opportunity for both companies to evaluate
the potential of a wide spectrum of products, in relation to the development
of SOFC technology for both mobile and stationary applications," said Daniel
Le-Breton, director for the fuel cells application program at TotalFinaElf.
Studies will focus initially on the use of gasoline, then diesel, followed by
domestic heating oil and liquid petroleum gas.

    The fuel cell arena holds great promise for automotive and non-automotive
applications.

    "Solid oxide fuel cells used as a vehicle's auxiliary power unit could
generate electrical energy for a wide range of potential vehicle systems and
provide electrical replacements for existing mechanically driven sub-systems,
such as the air conditioning and water pumps," said Jean Botti, Delphi's
European director of engineering and director of Delphi's Customer Solution
Center.

    "The SOFC allows these technologies to be operated more efficiently and
provides a much higher level of control.  Fuel cells used as distributive
power sources could, for example, supplement existing utility infrastructures
in residential areas, hospitals or industrial areas," Botti added.

    "Solid oxide fuel cells can convert a mixture of hydrogen and carbon
monoxide directly into electricity with high efficiency.  In the long term
they will enable customers to make a better use of a variety of fuels and
energy sources thus contributing to a more sustainable energy system," said
Georges Dupont-Roc, chief officer for sustainable development at TotalFinaElf.
"We are delighted to work together with Delphi in meeting this challenge.
They have fantastic capabilities for developing, packaging and mass
manufacturing this equipment at a competitive price," he added.