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Kenneth R. Baker Joins ECD as Vice Chairman and COO

27 January 1999

Kenneth R. Baker Joins ECD as Vice Chairman and COO

    TROY, Mich., Jan. 27 -- Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD)
today announced that Kenneth R. Baker has joined ECD as vice
chairman of its board of directors and chief operating officer.  Mr. Baker
leaves General Motors after a long career during which he held a range of
senior positions, most notably as vice president in charge of General Motors
Global Research and Development activities.  Most recently, he was vice
president and general manager of GM's Distributed Energy Business Unit.
    Mr. Stanford R. Ovshinsky, president and CEO of ECD, said, "We are very
pleased that Ken Baker is joining ECD.  His strong talents and critical
contributions to renewable energy and alternate energy sources make him an
ideal addition to the company."
    "I believe in ECD," said Baker.  "I believe in ECD technologies, in their
profound market potential, and in the environmental benefits they will help
catalyze.  In a very real sense, I feel my entire career has been preparation
for this most exciting opportunity."
    Mr. Robert C. Stempel, ECD's chairman, added, "Ken Baker's commitments to
electric transportation will be a real asset to ECD and Ovonic Battery as we
continue to expand our commercial activities.  As general manager of GM's
Distributed Energy Unit, Ken's background presents a natural synergy with
United Solar's photovoltaic business."
    Under Mr. Baker's leadership, GM Research and Development was able to
substantially extend the power of General Motors' innovation through worldwide
alliances and the global alignment of all 15 GM research and development units
behind a common, focused, market-driven agenda.  In support of that
initiative, Mr. Baker has also held several important industry positions
including: founding chairman of the United States Advanced Battery Consortium
(USABC); chairman, Electric Transportation Coalition; and operating officer,
USCAR/PNGV.  He has been recognized as one of the "Top 25 R&D Leaders in the
World" by the A.D. Little Company.  Mr. Baker serves on the Board of
AeroVironment, Inc., the company which helped develop the EV1 electric
vehicle.
    Mr. Ovshinsky has known Mr. Baker for several years through various
scientific and technological projects and early work during the formation of
USABC.  ECD was the recipient of the first USABC contract in May 1992 to
develop nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries for electric vehicles.  Both men
serve on the Board of Governors of the Cranbrook Institute of Science located
in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
    Mr. Stempel has worked with Mr. Baker on a variety of automotive projects
at General Motors, where Mr. Stempel was formerly Chairman and CEO.  Among
their collaborations was the EV1 electric vehicle which was developed under
the direction of Mr. Baker as the program manager of electric vehicles.
    Mr. Baker, 51, is married with three children and holds a BSME degree from
Clarkson University.
    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://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
of 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.