Delphi Launches New Line of Batteries for Commercial Vehicles

TROY, Mich., April 15 -- Understanding the importance of keeping commercial trucks and the systems that are necessary for off-road comfort and convenience up and running, Delphi Corporation has created and soon will launch an innovative, long-lasting battery for the commercial vehicle market.

The Delphi Freedom® Extra Battery uses gas recombinant technology to provide superior life and packaging flexibility for commercial vehicles. This completely maintenance-free battery is designed to last twice as long as conventional flooded lead-acid batteries, offering lower overall operating costs. The heat-sealed unit also features a one-way pressure valve, and a reinforced, rugged and leak-free cover for extra durability.

The new heavy-duty Delphi Freedom® Extra Battery is an absorbent glass mat (AGM) battery designed to meet the demands of a heavy-duty application. This battery is unique because there is no free liquid (or electrolyte agitating) in the battery. The electrolyte is absorbed by the glass mat, similar to a sponge absorbing liquid. This creates a leak- and spill-proof design that can be mounted essentially in any orientation anywhere within the vehicle.

Additional benefits of the Delphi Freedom Extra Battery include:

A higher underhood operating temperature range of 62 degrees C for continuous and 85 degrees C for excursion; Greater vibration resistance Deep cycling for longer run time Greater packaging flexibility; and Uses completely recyclable materials; Extensive laboratory and field tests have been completed on the new Delphi Freedom® Extra Battery . Delphi has provided AGM batteries to fleets for field test evaluation in both long haul/over-the-road applications and short haul/delivery route applications. In both application the Delphi Freedom® Extra Battery lasted twice as long as the conventional flooded lead acid battery.

``We are encouraged by the fleet responses to these field tests,'' said David Kessler, Delphi chief engineer, Delphi battery business line. ``They were performed without any modification to the existing electrical architecture on the heavy duty vehicles provided by fleet owners. That speaks how well the unit performs in the field, in real-world conditions.''

``The commercial vehicle market cannot tolerate downtime due to battery wear-out,'' said Pankaj Dhingra, Delphi business line director for batteries. ``Time is money to truck drivers. The new Delphi Freedom® Extra Battery will provide durability as well as the power needed to operate increasingly advanced electrical vehicle systems.''

The Delphi Freedom® Extra Battery will be available to OE, OE service and aftermarket customers beginning in April 2003.

For more information about Delphi, visit www.delphi.com/vpr .