Ultralife Supplies Lithium High Rate Batteries for Volvo On-Call Telematics System
14 November 2000
Ultralife Supplies Lithium High Rate Batteries for Volvo On-Call Telematics System
NEWARK, N.Y., Nov. 14 Ultralife Batteries, Inc
today announced that is has started delivery of lithium High
Rate batteries against a 12-month production schedule from Autoliv
Electronics, Sweden, a division of Autoliv Inc. , a
worldwide leader in automotive safety, a pioneer in both seat belts and
airbags, and a technology leader with the widest product offering for
automotive safety. Autoliv is deploying Ultralife's lithium High Rate
batteries as a key component of the new Volvo Car Corporation "Volvo On-Call"
post-crash telematics safety system. Ultralife expects to deliver
approximately $500,000 worth of batteries through October 2001.
Autoliv and Volvo Car Corporation investigated many different types of
batteries from numerous suppliers before finally selecting Ultralife's High
Rate lithium-manganese dioxide system. The Volvo On-Call telematics unit is a
"crash robust" system that automatically calls the Emergency Medical Service
Center after an accident and gives the rescue team the exact location of the
incident. The likelihood of the main car battery being rendered inoperable in
such a crash is very high, hence the absolute requirement for a back-up
battery. "The wide operating temperature range and the stringent fire safety
requirements that we imposed were only met by Ultralife," said Bjorn Forsberg
in charge of fire safety testing for Volvo Car Corporation.
Automotive telematics is expected to expand dramatically over the next few
years. Allied Business Intelligence projects 5 million telematics users by
2005, and with programs already announced by Ford, GM, and DaimlerChrysler it
has the potential to become an important new market area for Ultralife
Batteries. "We are extremely pleased that Autoliv and Volvo Car Corporation
have chosen our High Rate batteries for use in the Volvo On-Call system. This
is a life-saving application requiring high-reliability back-up batteries
capable of providing instant power in the event of an emergency," said Dr.
Colin Newnham, Managing Director of Ultralife Batteries (UK) Ltd., where the
batteries for Autoliv will be made.
John Kavazanjian, Ultralife's President and Chief Executive Officer, said,
"Working with Autoliv is evidence of our strategy to develop batteries for
special applications, as we are doing with the U.K. military, and to extend
these High Rate production capabilities to commercial markets such as
telematics. Our investment in R&D is keeping us at the forefront of the
development curve. We believe our superior technology puts us in a strong
position to benefit significantly as a major supplier of batteries in this
emerging market. We are delighted that Autoliv and Volvo Car Corporation,
leaders in automotive safety engineering, have recognized Ultralife as the
leader in automotive telematics back-up batteries by meeting Volvo's world
renowned safety standards."
The Volvo On-Call system, initially available in Sweden with planned
launches in other countries, will first be included in the new S60 car, which
was launched in August, and will also be available in the S80, V70 and Cross
Country models.
About Ultralife
Ultralife Batteries, Inc., the global battery solutions specialists for
diverse applications, is the world's leading developer, manufacturer, and
marketer of the widest range of standard as well as customized lithium primary
and polymer rechargeable batteries. Through its range of standard products
and leading world class ability to customize for a wide range of applications,
Ultralife Batteries, Inc. is able to provide, right now, the next generation
of battery solutions. No other battery manufacturer produces both primary
(3V, 9V, Pouch, Thin Cell, and High Rate) lithium batteries as well as polymer
rechargeable batteries. Ultralife Batteries, Inc. possesses the most varied
lithium cell and battery packaging configurations, customized solutions and
manufacturing capabilities in the world. The company's OEM and retail
customers include leading companies such as Energizer, Fyrnetics, Agilent,
Radio Shack, and Sears.
Autoliv (http://www.autoliv.com) is a worldwide leader in automotive
safety, a pioneer in both seat belts and airbags, and a technology leader with
the widest product offering for automotive safety. Customers include all the
leading automobile manufacturers in the world, who are serviced from more than
60 subsidiaries and joint ventures in 29 countries. Autoliv tests their cars
and products at 19 crash test tracks in nine countries, and has more than
27,000 people globally to support them.
Volvo Cars Corporation, (http://www.volvocars.com) makers of some of the
safest automobiles in the world, began making cars in 1927 and has pioneered
the field of car safety ever since then. Today Volvo Cars is a global
corporation with sales companies in all major markets. Volvo cars are built
on the principles of safety, quality and environmental care.
This document contains certain forward-looking statements and information
that are based on the beliefs of management as well as assumptions made by and
information currently available to management. The statements contained in
this document relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-
looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not
limited to, future demand for the Company's products and services, the
successful commercialization of the Company's advanced rechargeable batteries,
general economic conditions, government and environmental regulation,
competition and customer strategies, technological innovations in the primary
and rechargeable battery industries, changes in the Company's business
strategy or development plans, capital deployment, business disruptions,
including those caused by fire, raw materials supplies, environmental
regulations and other risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the
Company's control. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties
materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results
may differ materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed,
estimated or expected. A more detailed description of such uncertainties is
contained in the Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
such as the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
June 30, 2000.
Detailed information on Ultralife is available at the Company's web site,
http://www.ultralifebatteries.com.