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Ovonic NiMH Batteries Featured

6 October 1998

Ovonic NiMH Batteries Featured at Paris Motor Show And Brussels Electric Vehicle Symposium

    TROY, Mich., Oct. 5 -- Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
and its subsidiary, Ovonic Battery Company, Inc. (Ovonic
Battery), today announced that their proprietary Ovonic nickel metal hydride
(NiMH) batteries were featured at two European vehicle shows, the Paris motor
show in France and the 15th Annual Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS 15) in
Brussels, Belgium.
    At the Paris show, Opel, General Motors European vehicle manufacturer,
presented its first driveable fuel cell mini van equipped with an advanced
Ovonic NiMH battery pack.  Opel's mini van, the new Zafira,* serves as a
research platform to develop the fuel cell electric drive vehicle.
    During a media briefing at the Paris motor show, Mr. Michael J. Burns,
President, GM Europe, and Group Executive, General Motors Corporation,
commented, "Opel considers the combination fuel cell and electric drive to
have more potential than any other alternate propulsion system known at
present.  Our objective is to develop fuel cell technology to be at market
readiness by the year 2004."
    Robert C. Stempel, Chairman of Energy Conversion Devices, said, "Ovonic
Battery is pleased to be working with Opel on this advanced technology
project, which highlights the flexibility of our proprietary Ovonic NiMH
batteries and underscores our commitment to achieving commercialization and
manufacturing economies of scale."
    EVS 15, the year's largest gathering of international experts in the field
of electric-powered vehicles, attracted 100 exhibitors.  In separate displays
at GM Ovonic, General Motors and Ovonic Battery, advanced technology Ovonic
NiMH batteries for electric, hybrid electric and fuel cell vehicles were
featured.  Once again, NiMH batteries were "the battery of choice" for most
vehicle manufacturers.
    ECD is a leader in the synthesis of new materials and the development of
advanced production technology and innovative products.  It has pioneered and
developed enabling technologies leading to new products and production
processes based on amorphous, disordered and related materials, with an
emphasis on alternative energy and advanced information technologies.  ECD's
web site address is http://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, as
the date of this release, believes to be reasonable and appropriate.  ECD
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.

    * Technical specifications for the Zafira:

    Mini-van:  7-passenger or 2-passenger plus cargo (seats folded)
    Fuel cell stack:  Opel design
    Electric drive:  50kW AC induction motor
    Batteries: Advanced Ovonic NiMH pack (315 HEV20)
     Capacity -- 20 Ah
     Power -- 500 W/kg
     Energy -- 6.3 kWh
     Specific Energy -- 50 Wh/kg
     Power-to-Energy (P/E) Ratio -- 10:1