Print This Story  Email This Story  Save this Link View PR Newswire's RSS Feed  Blogs Discussing this News Release  Search Blogs that Mention this News Release  Click this link to view linked Bookmarking Services Click this link to view linked Blogging Services


Lithium Technology Corporation Powers Hybrid Electric Supercar

   Gumpert Apollo Geneva 2006 1. (PRNewsFoto/Lithium Technology Corporation)

PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA UNITED STATES
   Gumpert Apollo Battery Diagram. (PRNewsFoto/Lithium Technology Corporation)

PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA UNITED STATES
    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). The car will be piloted
by Mr. Dirk Muller and Mr. Frentzen.

    (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080515/NETH018-a )

    (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080515/NETH018-b )

    "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 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.



SOURCE Lithium Technology Corporation




Back to Topback to top

Related links:
  • http://www.lithiumtech.com
  • http://www.frentzen.de/2006/e/index.html
  • http://www.gumpert.de
  • http://www.hybrid-racing.ch
    Photo Notes:
    NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080515/NETH018-a
    http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080515/NETH018-b
    AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org AP PhotoExpress
    Network: PRN2-PRN3 PRN Photo Desk,
    photodesk@prnewswire.com
    CONTACT:
    Allyson Curtis of Lithium Technology
    Corporation, +1-914-980-4879, acurtis@lithiumtech.com