Deka Batteries Teams with Nuvera Fuel Cells to Develop Advanced Power Options for Industrial Trucks

MILAN, Italy and CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, January 6 -- Nuvera Fuel Cells, Inc., a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of fuel cell power systems, and East Penn Manufacturing Company, Inc., maker of Deka(R)batteries and the world's largest single-site independent battery manufacturer, announced they will jointly develop a hybrid battery / fuel cell electric "engine" to power lift trucks and other off-road industrial vehicles used in the material handling and the airport ground support sectors.

According to the agreement, East Penn and Nuvera will engage in an exclusive three-phase, two-year joint development effort. Their objective will be to develop another power solution which, like lead-acid batteries, is emission-free. The product will be designed to refuel in minutes and be interchangeable with standard battery trays used today.

Nuvera is a global leader in the development and advancement of multi-fuel processing and fuelcell technology. With offices located in Italy and the USA, Nuvera is committed to advancing the commercialization of hydrogen fuel cell power modules for industrial vehicles and equipment and stationary applications by 2006, natural gas fuel cell power systems for cogeneration applications by 2007, and on-board gasoline fuel processors and fuel cell stacks for automotive applications by 2010. Nuvera Fuel Cells Europe is ISO 9001:2000 certified for "Research, Development, Design, Production and Servicing of Fuel Cell Stacks and Fuel Cell Systems."

East Penn is a leading manufacturer of high quality lead-acid batteries and accessories for the automotive, industrial, marine, telecommunications, commercial, and stationary markets. The company's quality systems for its entire 480-acre complex have been certified to ISO 9001:2000 and ISO/TS 16949:2002 requirements. The company's Wire and Cable division has been certified to ISO 14001 Environmental Management System requirements. The company claims to have the largest, most modern single-site manufacturing facility in the world. For more information contact East Penn Manufacturing Co., Inc., Lyon Station, PA 19536 or visit the company web site at http://www.dekabatteries.com.

    
    Contact
     Robert Derby -- Director, Marketing Communications -- Nuvera Fuel Cells
     Tel: +1-617-245-7571 -- Fax: +1-617-245-7511 -- Cell: +1-508-254-9668 |     
     Email: derby.r@nuvera.com

     Donna Snyder -- East Penn Manufacturing
     Tel: +1-610-682-6361 -- Fax: +1-610-682-4781 --
     Email: eastpenn@eastpenn-deka.com

    Web site:  http://www.nuvera.com
               http://www.dekabatteries.com

Robert Derby, Director, Marketing Communications of Nuvera Fuel Cells, Tel: +1-617-245-7571, or Cell: +1-508-254-9668, derby.r@nuvera.com; or Donna Snyder of East Penn Manufacturing, +1-610-682-6361, eastpenn@eastpenn-deka.com