Donaldson In Joint Fuel Cell Development With Japanese Automobile Manufacturer - Bye Bye OPEC

MINNEAPOLIS--Dec. 10, 2001-- Global filtration solutions expert Donaldson Company, Inc. today announced a major development contract with a leading Japanese automobile manufacturer to apply fuel cell-filtration science to fuel cell-powered automobiles, helping accelerate their commercialization. The first commercialized fuel cell vehicles will begin appearing in 2003. Donaldson FC3 products filter intake air and mitigate acoustics in fuel cells, helping a wide range of products - from cell phones to automobiles - make the leap from the laboratory to the marketplace.

The Donaldson FC3 business has more than 25 non-disclosure agreements with fuel cell manufacturers in Europe, North America and Japan.

``Fuel cell developers, including automobile manufacturers, are recognizing the need for intake-air -- or cathode-side -- filtration to ensure fuel cell reliability and performance,'' said Richard Canepa, director of the Donaldson FC3 business unit. ``In all corners of the world, ambient air contains contaminants that can compromise the fuel cell system durability, life and performance. By incorporating current, state-of-the-art, proprietary FC3 technologies, we are making fuel cell-specific products that are cost effective and available today.''

Recognizing and Filtering Global Contaminants. Fuel cell development to-date has occurred in the controlled environment of the laboratory, where the air is relatively free of real-world contaminants. Donaldson Company air quality studies conducted on every continent show that ambient air carries enough pollution to adversely affect hydrogen fuel cell reliability. Sub-micrometer-sized particles, salts, oils, chemicals and volatile organic compounds -- which shorten fuel cell life -- are all found in varying degrees in the atmosphere.

Donaldson is working with the Los Alamos National Laboratory to lead fuel cell filtration development. The company has established FC3 offices in North America, Japan, and Europe and is working with multiple fuel cell manufacturers and fuel cell-powered product developers to make the technology a commercially viable power source for a wide range of transportation, residential and portable applications.

For more information about fuel cell engines, visit the Los Alamos fuel cell information page at: http://www.lanl.gov/worldview/science/features/fuelcell.html