ECD Ovonics President and CEO Delivers a Keynote Talk At Materials Research Society Meeting in Boston

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich., Dec. 1, 2003 -- Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD Ovonics) announced today that Stanford R. Ovshinsky, its President and Chief Executive Officer, gave a keynote talk, "New Science and Technology, the Basis of the Hydrogen Economy," at the Materials Research Society (MRS) meeting in Boston.

At the meeting, Ovshinsky showed how the hydrogen economy has already been initiated by electric and hybrid vehicles enabled by Ovonic(R) nickel metal hydride battery technology, which has been chosen overwhelmingly as the battery for use in these vehicles. He described how hydrogen as a fuel could be stored in a solid hydride and used instead of high-pressure or liquid hydrogen, noting that not only fuel cell vehicles but internal combustion engines running on hydrogen have also been made practical by ECD Ovonics' work.

Ovshinsky addressed the problems of the infrastructure with illustrations of solutions that would aid the transition of the oil industry to the hydrogen economy in a realistic manner. He discussed the dangers to the global economy of pollution, climate change and the strategic dependence on oil, making the transition to the hydrogen economy an absolute necessity.

Ovshinsky emphasized the role of materials science as the basis of solving these crucial problems and building up new industries so critically needed and noted that MRS had become the key scientific organization in this endeavor. Founded in 1973, MRS brings together scientists, engineers and research managers from industry, government, academia and research laboratories to share findings in the research and development of new materials of technological importance.

Stan and Iris Ovshinsky founded ECD Ovonics in January 1960 to work in energy and information based upon the principle that information was encoded energy and both required new science, materials, mechanisms, inventions and technology to bring forth the industries that would open up new areas to meet the needs of our global economy. They chose amorphous and disordered materials which they had pioneered since the 1950s to show the universality that their scientific concepts possessed. Ovshinsky is a leader in the field of amorphous and disordered materials and has been invited numerous times to speak at the most prestigious institutions in his field.

About ECD Ovonics

ECD Ovonics is the leader in the synthesis of new materials and the development of advanced production technology and innovative products. It has invented, pioneered and developed enabling technologies in the fields of energy and information leading to new products and production processes based on amorphous, disordered and related materials. ECD Ovonics' proprietary advanced information technologies include Ovonic(TM) phase-change electrical memory, Ovonic(TM) phase-change optical memory and the Ovonic(TM) Threshold Switch. The Company's portfolio of alternative energy solutions includes thin-film amorphous solar cells, modules, panels and systems for generating solar electric power; NiMH batteries; hydride storage materials capable of storing hydrogen in the solid state for use as a feedstock for fuel cells or internal combustion engines or as an enhancement or replacement for any type of hydrocarbon fuel; and fuel cell technology. ECD Ovonics designs and builds manufacturing machinery that incorporates its proprietary production processes, maintains ongoing research and development programs to continually improve its products and develops new applications for its technologies. ECD Ovonics holds the basic patents in its fields. More information on ECD Ovonics is available on www.ovonic.com .

This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions which ECD Ovonics, as of the date of this release, believes to be reasonable and appropriate. ECD Ovonics cautions, however, that the actual facts and conditions that may exist in the future could vary materially from the assumed facts and conditions upon which such forward-looking statements are based.