Exide Technologies Launches The Exide Select Orbital(R) XCD

PRINCETON, N.J., July 26 Exide Technologies , a global leader in stored electrical energy storage solutions, has launched the Exide Select Orbital® Extreme Cycle Duty (XCD), a deep cycle battery for automotive applications. It expands the company's technologically advanced Orbital product line to four batteries, including the Exide Select Orbital® automotive starting, marine starting and marine deep cycle batteries.

This sealed, valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) battery provides unparalleled deep cycle power for high energy automotive applications such as vehicles with high performance audio amplifiers, CDs, DVDs, VCRs and game players, as well as those with winches, hydraulic pumps and other power-hungry accessories. A deep cycle battery is designed to deliver a steady, long- lasting level of power, while a starting battery delivers a spike of high power needed to start a vehicle's engine. High performance audio vehicles often have one starting battery and one or more deep cycle batteries.

The Exide Select Orbital® XCD, designed to complement the vehicle's starting battery, features a highly efficient design of spiral-wound plates combined with absorbed glass mat lead-acid chemistry. The Orbital technology produces a battery with twice the life of a conventional battery and safety features that allow it to be located anywhere in the vehicle. Orbital XCD features include:

* Longer charge retention and quick rechargeability while accepting a higher charge current. * Patented, through-the-partition (TTP) intercell welds -- offer 17 times more vibration resistance than conventional flooded batteries. * Sealed design -- the battery is spill-proof, won't freeze, and can be mounted anywhere in the vehicle -- upright, or on its side, in the engine or passenger compartment. * Valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) recombinant technology -- because the battery produces no gas under normal operating conditions, it can be mounted anywhere in the vehicle. * Versatile, dual terminal design -- allows the battery to fit a larger number of vehicles.

"The high performance car audio market and the off-road markets both demand a high power, virtually indestructible deep cycle battery," said David Enstone, president of the Exide Technologies Global Transportation Business Unit. "The Exide Select Orbital® XCD, which complements our original Exide Select Orbital® technology starting battery, will give Exide expanded presence in these two markets that have distinct, advanced power requirements."

Exide Select Orbital® XCD batteries are distributed through Exide's extensive national distribution network. The batteries are backed by an 18-month free replacement warranty. Like other Exide Technologies products, these batteries are made with recycled lead and plastic, and will be recycled at the end of their service lives. Exide is one of the few battery manufacturers in the world with facilities to manufacture and recycle its own products. The Exide Select Orbital® XCD batteries will be available at high performance audio outlets nationwide beginning August 1.

About Exide Technologies:

Exide Technologies, with operations in 89 countries and fiscal 2002 net sales of approximately $2.4 billion, is one of the world's largest producers and recyclers of lead-acid batteries. The company's three global business groups -- motive power, network power and transportation -- provide a comprehensive range of stored electrical energy products and services for industrial and transportation applications.

Industrial uses include network power applications such as telecommunications systems, fuel-cell load leveling, electric utilities, railroads, photovoltaic (solar-power related) and uninterruptible power supply (UPS); and motive-power applications for a broad range of equipment uses, including lift trucks, mining vehicles and commercial vehicles.