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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 22, 2008
PROTONEX AWARDED CONTRACT BY US ARMY TO DELIVER A
PORTABLE POWER MANAGER SYSTEM
DATELINE: SOUTHBOROUGH, MA; Protonex Technology Corporation (LSE: AIM: PTX and
PTXU), a leading provider of advanced fuel cell power systems for portable, remote and
mobile applications, today announces that it will develop a tailored, soldier-borne power
manager for the US Army, which will dramatically reduce the soldiers' logistics burden
supply - a critical step in minimizing the numbers and different types of power sources a
soldier must carry. This work will be completed under an awarded $389,325 contract with
the US Army Research Office (ARO) and will draw on continuing developments by Protonex of
its power and battery management technologies.
Under the terms of this 10-month contract, Protonex will rapidly evolve its
current man-portable power manager system making it smaller, lighter and easier to
configure for a variety of different loads. The resulting Protonex high-performance power
manager is expected to address the burdensome inefficiencies of existing battery and power
management technologies by matching virtually any load with any available power source
(e.g. batteries, fuel cells, solar) - enabling the military to more efficiently use their
available energy sources for a wide range of applications.
The new system design will combine advances in ultra-high efficiency power
conversion, power management and battery charging technology into one product solution.
Capabilities of the enhanced power manager system will include: soldier battery
monitoring, management and charging, power delivery to soldier systems, as well as
advanced power harvesting and scavenging from available energy sources.
"Working with the US Army on this program, we will speed the refinement of
our advanced portable power manager product, making it a more universal, invaluable power
solution for soldiers," stated Greg Cipriano, VP, Marketing and Military Development
for Protonex Technology Corporation. "This new contract represents valued follow-on
support by ARO, which will enable us to provide critical tools for various military
applications. We also expect to leverage this advanced technology into other core products
for both military and commercial customers."
ENDS -
Enquiries
Protonex Technology Corporation Tel: +1 508 490 9960
Scott Pearson, Chief Executive Officer Margaret Dorsheimer, Director of Marketing
Redleaf Communications Limited Tel: +44 (0)20 7822 0200
Press and Investor Relations Samantha Robbins Paul Dulieu
Canaccord Adams Limited Tel: +44 (0)20 7050 6500
Nominated Adviser Robert Finlay Erin Needra
Notes to Editors
About Protonex Technology Corporation
www.protonex.com
Protonex Technology Corporation develops and manufactures compact, lightweight and
high- performance fuel cell systems for portable power applications in the ten to
1000-watt range. The Company's fuel cell systems are designed to meet the needs of
military and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) customers for off-grid applications
underserved by existing technologies by providing customizable, stand-alone portable power
solutions and systems that may be hybridized with existing power technologies. The Company
is based in Southborough, Massachusetts.
- PRODUCTS-PROTONEX IS DEVELOPING THREE LINES OF FUEL CELL POWER PRODUCTS TO address
its three core customer groups: OEM customers, commercial end users and military end
users. These products are all built upon a fundamental product architecture that utilizes
patented, scalable manufacturing technology to enable low-cost production of reliable,
extended-run fuel cell power systems. While products may differ in power output, fuel type
and balance of plant configurations, all share technical content and development pathways
and as a result, Protonex is able to leverage vendor and/or component technologies across
platforms.
- PROCORETM TECHNOLOGY-PROTONEX HAS DEVELOPED A CORE FUEL CELL ARCHITECTURE, called
ProCoreTM that serves as the basis for all of its product platforms. ProCoreTM is based on
patented, scalable manufacturing technology that enables low-cost production of reliable,
extended-run fuel cell power systems.
- PROTONEX HAS AN EXPANDING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PORTFOLIO THAT INCLUDES PROTON
Exchange Membrane (PEM), Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) and fuel reformer technology.
*
PEM technology: the most developed technology used for many applications,
including portable, small stationary and transportation systems, due to its
low temperature operation (around 80oC, or 176oF), quick start-up times and
longer duration operation. Requires only hydrogen fuel and oxygen from the
air to operate. Protonex' patented design and manufacturing processes
provide many advantages compared to competing fuel cell solutions.
* SOFC technology: less mature than PEM technology, but offers advantages such
as fuel diversity, high efficiency and very compact size and weight.
Protonex SOFC systems are based on a tubular architecture and use a hard,
non-porous ceramic compound as the electrolyte, so cells do not have to be
constructed in the stacked plate configuration typically seen with other
fuel cell technologies. In addition, SOFC systems operate at high
temperatures (around 800oC, 1,470oF), which reduces costs by eliminating the
need for a precious metal catalyst and allowing SOFC systems to reform fuels
internally.
- FUELS - PROTONEX UTILISES MULTIPLE INPUT FUELS TO CREATE POWER FROM ITS PEM and
SOFC fuel cell systems. These two complementary technology platforms allow Protonex to
offer power systems that operate on hydrogen, chemical hydrides, methanol, propane,
gasoline, diesel, ethanol and other biofuels. Because fuel cells process fuels
electrochemically rather than burning them, running fuel cell systems on carbon-based
fuels still retains the environmental benefits associated with fuel cells and other
alternative power sources.
This announcement includes statements which are,
or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". All statements other than
statements of historical facts included in this announcement, including, without
limitation, those regarding Protonex' financial position, business strategy, plans and
objectives of management for future operations (including development plans and objectives
relating to Protonex' products and services) are forward-looking statements. By their
nature, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other important factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements
of Protonex to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include but are not
limited to those described in the Admission Document issued in connection with the
Company's admission to AIM.
Forward-looking statements may and often do differ materially from actual results.
Any forward-looking statements in this announcement speak only as at the date of this
announcement and are subject to risks relating to future events and other risks,
uncertainties and assumptions relation to Protonex' operations, results of operations,
growth strategy and liquidity.
END
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