BAT Completes Preliminary Crash Testing
16 November 1998
BAT Completes Preliminary Crash Testing
CHULA VISTA, Calif., Nov. 16 -- BAT International
(OTC Bulletin Board: BAAT) has completed preliminary crash testing and
accident reconstruction on October 28, 1998. BAT's new improved revision of
its composite pickup truck has proven to be extremely durable and tough. The
testing was completed at CRASH 98, the international automotive safety
conference sponsored by Texas Engineering Extension Service / Texas A&M
University System.
The composite pickup truck was first run head on into a stationary barrier
at 19 to 20 miles per hour. Frontal damage was minimal. The pickup is
completely constructed of composite materials from the front "firewall"
rearward. Only the front engine cradle is made from tubular steel. The
tubular steel cradle is designed to crumple and absorb impact, then under high
impact, slowly fold downward and push the engine and transmission under the
vehicle. This concept has been designed into some of the safest vehicles ever
built including Mercedes and Citroen.
The frontal impact on the pickup clearly indicated that the pickup design
was functioning as planned. In fact, damage was so minimal that the same
vehicle could be used for a second crash test -- the side impact test.
In the side impact test, BAT's pickup was subjected to a crash test by a
car traveling at 25 miles per hour with a weight almost 3 times the weight
of the pickup. The BAT pickup truck was hit in the side by the larger vehicle
so hard that it turned the pickup over on its side. Nevertheless, the BAT
pickup truck sustained no structural damage and no penetration into the pickup
at all. The only damage was several scratches and one 8" crack in the
composite body.
It is important to note that in a previous similar side crash test on a
steel (versus composite) automobile produced by Detroit that was hit at the
same speed by a moving vehicle of the same weight, the steel vehicle sustained
enough damage to it to qualify it as "totaled" whereas the BAT pickup
sustained almost no damage. By any means of comparison, the general opinion
of the accident reconstruction specialists at the conference categorized the
BAT pickup as a truly " tough" vehicle.
BAT will proceed with formal crash testing even though it is not required
to do so for sale in the primary markets in Mexico and many developing
countries, or for off-the-road vehicles in the US. BAT subsidiary companies
presently employ 30 automotive engineers, craftsmen and mechanics in its new
auto plant at Otey Mesa, Mexico, where it produces its composite pickup
trucks.
BAT International is organized as a holding company with major ownership
position in a set of subsidiary companies now commercializing advanced
automotive and energy technology products developed by BAT over the last six
years. This includes electric vehicles, super-efficient and high-powered
engines, advanced batteries and power electronics, electric bicycles and
scooters, super anti-friction additives, and electric power generation. (For
more information, call (619) 409-8977 or visit BAT's web site: http://www.baat.com.)
This press release contains forward-looking statements that should not be
used to make an investment decision. Please refer to the company's web sites
and other sources for more detailed information or call (619) 409-8977.