LTHU Stock: Lithium Technology Corporation Powers Hybrid Electric Supercar
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., May 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mr. Heinz-Harald
Frentzen, ex-Formula One (F1) racer and champion, and Gumpert
Sportwagenmanufaktur GmbH ('Gumpert') have announced plans to enter a hybrid
electric version of its Apollo supercar into this year's Nurburgring 24 hour
race, at the end of May 2008, powered by a battery solution from Lithium
Technology Corporation ('LTC') (OTC: LTHU Stock). The car will be piloted by Mr.
Dirk Muller and Mr. Frentzen.
'We are pleased to co-sponsor the first hybrid electric version of the
Apollo, produced by Gumpert in Germany, and lend our technology to a movement
that increases public awareness of hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) performance
and encourages advances in HEV technology,' commented Dr. Klaus Brandt, chief
executive officer of LTC. 'LTC believes that Racing plays a significant role
in pioneering the use of new technologies, such as lithium ion batteries, and
offers the opportunity for us to demonstrate the performance of our batteries
under extreme conditions while exhibiting the benefits and usability of our
products to traditional car manufacturers.'
The hybrid Apollo will use a 3.3 liter V8 bi-turbo petrol mill with a
100kW electric motor. The 9kWh GAIA(R) battery will be made of 90 high power
27Ah cells connected in series and will weigh about 190 kilograms. The battery
will include an advanced battery management system (BMS) that will transmit
battery performance data via satellite for monitoring and enhance performance
control of the technical team. The battery will be charged prior to the race
and recoup energy from braking during the race, in a mode that resembles a
plug-in hybrid electric operation (PHEV). The electric range of the vehicle
will be 50 kilometers, and plans are to double it in the near future.
'Motor sports cannot ignore the necessity to save energy. I see a chance
that our sport will go back to the forefront of technical development, making
cars outside of the racetrack much more energy efficient,' commented Mr.
Frentzen. 'We are happy to work with the professional team at LTC, who provide
us with the most advance and reliable battery solution that meet our stringent
racing demands.'
'With this car and this race, LTC has once again proven the superiority of
its battery technology that is currently available to the selected customers,'
commented Brandt. 'We are not only making a statement about our products, but
put them to use in the most demanding applications in the transportation,
defense and stationary markets to showcase our ability to answer the growing
demand for safe and reliable lithium-ion batteries.'
From racetracks to highways, to the depths of the ocean and up into space,
LTC is powering the world in extraordinary ways. The Company manufactures a
range of cells with two different types of chemistries, iron-phosphate and
nickel-cobalt. Both chemistries coupled with the company's innovative
end-to-end manufacturing processes and proprietary design and assembly
techniques, allow LTC to provide large high performance cells and batteries
unmatched by any other product.
About Lithium Technology Corporation: Lithium Technology Corporation (LTC)
is a global provider of large format rechargeable power solutions for diverse
applications, and offers the largest lithium-ion cells with the highest power
of any standard commercial lithium ion cell produced in the western
hemisphere. With more than 20 years of experience, LTC leverages its extensive
expertise in high power and large battery assemblies to commercialize advanced
lithium batteries as a new power source in the military and national security
systems, transportation and stationary power markets.
LTC manufactures the GAIA(R) product line of large, high power
hermetically sealed rechargeable lithium-ion cells and batteries. The
Company's product portfolio includes large cells and batteries from 10 times
the capacity of a standard laptop computer battery to 100,000 times greater.
LTC manufactures a variety of standard cells that are assembled into custom
large batteries complete with electronics (battery management systems) and
electronics to communicate with other components of the system for performance
monitoring.
LTC headquarters are located in Plymouth Meeting, PA and R&D in
Nordhausen, Germany. LTC sales for the U.S. and European markets are managed
out of each of the offices. For more information about LTC, its technology and
products, please visit http://www.lithiumtech.com
About Mr. Heinz-Harald Frentzen: Heinz-Harald Frentzen is a German racing
driver most famous for his career in Formula One. At various times driving for
Williams, Jordan, Sauber, Prost, and Arrows, he achieved three race wins
before his retirement from F1 in 2003. For more information about Mr. Frentzen
and his company please visit http://www.frentzen.de/2006/e/index.html and
www.hybrid-racing.ch
About Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur GmbH: Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur GmbH
(Gumpert) is a German-based company building supercars. The first model
produced is the Apollo. Founder and owner of Gumpert is Roland Gumpert, former
head of Audi Sport. Audi scored 2 drivers and 2 constructors World Rally
Championship titles during his time there. The company is based at Altenburg,
Thuringia. For more information about Gumpert and its products, please visit
http://www.gumpert.de
Safe Harbor for Forward-looking Statements:
The foregoing information contains forward-looking statements, which
involve risks and uncertainties relating to such matters as financial
performance, technology development, capital raising, business prospects,
strategic partnering and similar matters. A variety of factors could cause
LTC's actual results and experience to differ materially from anticipated
results or other expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements.
This notice does not constitute an offer of any securities for sale.
