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AEG ZEBRA Battery to Test Its Advanced Battery Technology With Ford

12 December 1997

AEG ZEBRA Battery to Test Its Advanced Battery Technology With Ford

    ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 12 -- The efforts to bring better
performing, lower cost electric vehicles to the American market took a step
forward today when AEG ZEBRA Battery Marketing GmbH (AEG ZEBRA) announced that
it will test its sodium/nickel chloride battery with Ford Motor Company
.
    The ZEBRA battery provides automakers with a lower cost, longer-range
alternative to currently available battery technology such as lead acid and
nickel-metal hydride.  AEG ZEBRA announced that testing of the battery in the
United States will begin in January 1998.
    "We look forward to working with Ford on this project as they have a
strong history of electric vehicle testing and development," said Dr. Cord-
Henrich Dustmann, managing director of AEG ZEBRA.  "Ultimately, our goal is to
continue to prove out this promising technology with several automakers here
in the United States."
    The ZEBRA battery will be making its American debut at the 14th
International Electric Vehicle Symposium, December 11-17, 1997 at the Walt
Disney World Dolphin in Orlando, Florida.  It will be powering three vehicles
at the symposium -- a Mercedes C Class, BMW 3-series coupe, and the Mercedes
VITO.
    "We are excited about the emerging electric vehicle market in the United
States and believe the ZEBRA battery can provide the performance American
automakers are expecting," said Dr. Dustmann.  "With a typical driving range
of 130 miles and a demonstrated life cycle of five years, the ZEBRA battery
meets most midterm goals set by the United States Advanced Battery
Consortium."
    The ZEBRA battery can be fully recharged in about 7 hours, and can
typically be fast charged to extend the range by 30 miles within 15 minutes.
Unlike many other batteries, it will continue to operate even if up to five
percent of the battery's cells have failed.  No repair or replacement is
required.
    The ZEBRA battery is composed of commonly available materials -- salt,
nickel, steel and ceramic -- which provides low cost potential and is easily
recycled.  The cost of the ZEBRA battery is $9,000 at planned full volume
production of 30,000 batteries per year, and is expected to fall with
increased volumes.

SOURCE  AEG ZEBRA Battery Marketing GmbH