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") 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.