West Philly Hybrid X Team Selects International Battery for Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE Contest

ALLENTOWN, Pa.--International Battery (www.internationalbattery.com), a U.S. manufacturer and developer of large-format lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, today announced that it is providing two lithium ion battery packs for West Philly Hybrid X Team’s super fuel-efficient cars, aimed at exceeding 100 MPGe (miles per gallon or its energy equivalent). The environmentally friendly vehicles, one of which will be on display during the Philadelphia International Auto Show, are being built by local high school students and will compete in the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE (PIAXP).

“Providing an accurate assessment of each individual cell makes the battery pack inherently more reliable and more efficient than traditional battery designs based on a large number of small cylindrical cells”

The first vehicle, a modified Factory Five GTM Supercar, with acceleration of 0 to 60 in under five seconds, will compete in the Alternative category and will be powered in part by International Battery’s innovative large format lithium ion battery cells. The battery design incorporates 50 Ah lithium-nickel cobalt manganese cells and contains a total of 9 kWh. A modular design conveniently distributed throughout the car allows a nominal operating voltage of 180 volts. The second vehicle, a Ford Focus, contains a 15 kWh battery based on similar 50 Ah cells and will compete in the Mainstream class of the contest.

“We’re proud to participate and help local high school students achieve their goals in this exciting project,” said Dr. Ake Almgren, International Battery president and CEO. “We wish the team great success.”

Simon Hauger, director for the West Philly Hybrid X Team, said, “International Battery brought to the table an impressive energy solution for our vehicles. The battery’s high energy density and comprehensive battery management system made it the perfect choice for our vehicles. Not only are their large format lithium batteries high performing, but they are also built right here in Pennsylvania. Using American components is an important part of our business plan.”

A key competitive advantage to using International Battery large-format energy storage systems is the company’s unique Battery Management System (BMS). The BMS monitors the temperature and voltage of each cell and provides continuous balancing of the system, maintaining all cells within a narrow voltage range.

“Providing an accurate assessment of each individual cell makes the battery pack inherently more reliable and more efficient than traditional battery designs based on a large number of small cylindrical cells,” explained Dr. Almgren. “Large-format prismatic cells result in a less complex system, allowing better system energy density.”

Those competitive technological advantages should boost the chances of the West Philly Hybrid X Team, comprised of high school students from Philadelphia's inner city, who are competing for the $10 million prize. “The team will provide a powerful example of how urban young people can impact climate change and create important roles for themselves in the new green economy. The students, and the cars they develop, will be models for the future,” said Hauger.

For more details on the EVX West Philly Hybrid X Team, visit its web site at http://www.evxteam.org. For more information about International Battery, please visit: www.internationalbattery.com.

About the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE

The Progressive Automotive X PRIZE has invited teams worldwide to focus on a single goal: design, build, and sell super-efficient cars that people want to buy. Prizes will be awarded to the teams that win a stage competition for lean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 MPGe (miles per gallon or its energy equivalent).

The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE has chosen the state of Michigan to host an intense multi-stage competition that aims to pit some of the world’s most fuel-efficient vehicles against one another in a quest to win their share of a $10 million prize purse. Fifty-one super-efficient cars from 41 teams survived the rigorous design judging phase and now aim to ready their vehicles for the start of on-track performance events in the Spring 2010, thanks to a unique new partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Michigan International Speedway (MIS), announced today at the North American International Auto Show.

The series of scored performance and evaluation events kicks off April 26, 2010 and continues through the end of August 2010. During this time, the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE will conduct several closed-door competition stages aimed at evaluating the efficiency, safety and performance of each competition vehicle under real-world conditions. While in Michigan, the competition will open its doors at select dates to allow the public and the automotive world an opportunity to witness the competition stages as they unfold. In addition, ongoing and interactive updates will be available online at www.progressiveautoxprize.org throughout the competition stages.

About the West Philly Hybrid X Team

High school students from Philadelphia's inner city are bringing their winning record to the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize (PIAXP) competition. The competition challenges teams from around the world to design, build, and sell super-efficient cars that people want to buy. There are currently 41 teams entered in this important contest. Unlike the West Philly Team, many of those teams are extremely well-financed companies.

While many may believe it unrealistic for a team of inner city high school students to win this competition, they know they can succeed. The West Philly Team has built and raced alternative fuel vehicles since 1998. As entrants in the National Tour de Sol, they outperformed elite university teams and production vehicles, winning the competition in 2002, 2005 and 2006.

About International Battery

Headquartered in Allentown, Pa., International Battery (www.internationalbattery.com) is a U.S. manufacturer, designer, and developer of large-format lithium-ion rechargeable cells and batteries for use in a wide range of transportation, industrial, electric utility, smart grid and military applications, employing a uniquely environmentally friendly manufacturing process.

In addition to historical information, this release may contain forward-looking statements. International Battery may, from time-to-time, make written or oral forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements encompass International Battery’s beliefs, expectations, hopes or intentions regarding future events. Words such as "expects," "intends," "believes," "anticipates," "should," "likely" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements included in this release are made as of the date hereof and are based on information available to International Battery as of such date. International Battery assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement. Actual results may vary, and may vary materially, from those anticipated, estimated, projected or expected for a number of reasons.

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