Lithium Technology Corporation Speeds Ahead With Advanced Race Car Battery
June 18, 2008
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., June 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — The Apollo
supercar passed the finish line at the Nurburgring 24 hour race on May 24,
2008, running on electrical energy alone in front of 200,000 spectators,
proving that hybrid technology does have a future in motor racing. The
plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) Apollo made by Gumpert
Sportwagenmanufaktur GmbH (”Gumpert”) that was powered by Lithium
Technology Corporation (”LTC”) (Pink Sheets: LTHU) battery is owned by Mr.
Heinz-Harald Frentzen, ex-Formula One (F1) racer and champion, and was
piloted by Mr. Dirk Muller and Mr. Frentzen.
The hybrid Apollo used a 3.3 liter V8 bi-turbo petrol mill with a 100kW
electric motor. LTC’s 9kWh GAIA(R) battery included an advanced battery
management system (BMS) that transmitted battery performance data via
satellite for monitoring and enhance performance control of the technical
team. Gumpert supplied the basic vehicle, a Gumpert Apollo, while
Switzerland’s BRUSA gave provided the electrical motor.
Mr. Muller commented “I’m proud to have been a driver for this
innovative and forward-thinking project. I was fascinated at how simple and
trouble-free it was to handle the hybrid system.”
LTC is involved with several PHEV projects and previously introduced
its own Toyota Prius with retrofitted GAIA Lithium Iron Phosphate cells in
2007, demonstrating the Company’s leading technology. The company is
currently supplying both cells and batteries for several other hybrid
vehicle projects including buses, trucks, unmanned vehicles and
motorcycles.
“LTC’s battery technology has more than proven its worth in racing,
providing impressive evidence that lithium-ion technology is already fit
for use in hybrid vehicles,” commented LTC Chief Executive Officer, Dr.
Klaus Brandt. “The race was an amazing experience for everyone involved,
and we’re already focusing on how to bring this battery concept to the next
level.
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 http://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.
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