[2] BAT International Offers Free ''Y2K Checklist''.

CHULA VISTA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 17, 1999--

BAT International (OTC:BAAT) (www.baat.com) reached an agreement with First Millennium, a January, 2000 Internet e-commerce startup, to publish First Millennium's easy-to-use "Y2K Checklist". First Millennium decided to prepare the "Checklist" for mass distribution after reading the sobering Y2K disaster preparation summary from the US Senate Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem "Investigating the Year 2000 Problem: The 100 Day Report".

According to the US Senate Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem "Investigating the Year 2000 Problem: The 100 Day Report", "The challenges posed by the Y2K problem are numerous and daunting. The Committee conducted extensive research and had numerous hearings in 1999, but still cannot conclusively determine how extensive Y2K disruptions will be. However, the Committee has no data to suggest that the U.S. will experience nationwide social or economic collapse. Nonetheless, disruptions will occur and in some cases those disruptions will be significant. The international situation will certainly be more tumultuous." (available at www.senate.gov/y2k/) (See Note a).

The seriousness of the Y2K problem was also noted in a recent USA Today article on 12/10/99 that quoted in a report from the Natural Resources and Defense Council and the Center for Y2K:

"There are serious doubts that the 55,000 drinking water utilities and the 16,000 publicly owned wastewater facilities in the United States will be prepared for Y2K".

First Millennium states that their "Checklist" is "The Safest Way to Y2K" and can help everyone prepare for emergencies that might result from Y2K computer problems beginning 12AM on January 1, 2000. This easy-to-use report provides a detailed description of 50 steps that BAT International recommends everyone use to prepare for Y2K and other emergency situations.

The "Checklist" can be obtained free of charge by visiting BAT International's web site at www.baat.com. BAT International management strongly recommend that individuals and families print the report and circulate it (for free) to anyone who might be concerned about serious problems that might be caused by the Y2K "bug" (commercial use or sale of the information requires pre-authorization from First Millennium and is not allowed without this authorization).

Like the federal government and Y2K experts, BAT International management has no idea what will happen because of Y2K problems. Nonetheless, the company certainly believes that everyone should be prepared for emergencies that can impact businesses and communities as well as individuals and families. For the small cost of preparing for a natural or man-made disaster, millions of people can avoid the terrible effects that an emergency can have on their lives. This, in essence, is what Y2K is all about in the first place. Ben Franklin's admonition concerning laziness and irresponsibility sums it up well: "Failure to prepare is preparation for failure." And even if Y2K creates few problems, any preparation for Y2K will pay off in future emergency such as a blizzards, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, fires and other natural or man-made disasters that are certain to happen again and again.

All of the experts including the Red Cross, the federal government, state governments, and Year 2000 experts agree that everyone should prepare to live for at least one week without electricity, water, sewage, gas, banking, shopping, travel, television, telephone or other public utilities and services. In consideration of this advice, BAT International has highlighted a few of the 50 precautions that are discussed in First Millennium's "Checklist":

o Have plenty of warm clothes, bedding, footwear, emergency gear in the car, etc. in case there's no heat.

o Fill up containers with water for drinking and as well as your bathtub and sinks on December 31st and obtain filters and unscented bleach to treat water.

o Buy extra batteries, flashlights, 100 hour candles, lighters, etc. in case the power goes out for quite a while.

o Obtain a dual fuel camp stove and extra fuel to use outdoors for cooking, heating water, and other emergencies.

o Buy a first aid kit and restock prescription drugs.

o Fill up your gas tank before the new year and safely store and extra can of gas.

o Consider options to maintain hygiene including diapers, buckets, paper towels, portable toilets, toilet paper, etc.

o Stock up on food and drink, including non-perishable canned goods.

o Withdraw a reasonable amount of cash from the bank.

o Consider methods to provide basic protection from intrusion (door alarms, pepper spray, etc.).

According to Joe Lastella, President of BAT International, Y2K is no reason to panic. But everyone should prepare now. It is likely to be a very minimal problem in the U.S. if things go as expected. In several foreign countries, things might not be as simple and more serious problems could develop. These problems might have an impact on oil supplies or movement of critical goods to market. This in turn could impact employment and future financial markets in the U.S.

"This will certainly make for an interesting start to the New Millennium," said Joe LaStella, President of BAT International." "Everyone hopes Y2K turns into Y2what or Y2why and that everyone has many reasons to say 'Happy New Year'. BAT International management certainly wishes everyone the Happiest of Holidays and a prosperous New Year."

BAT International is organized as a holding company with major ownership positions in a set of subsidiary companies now commercializing advanced automotive and energy technology products developed by company. Technologies developed over the last seven years include electric vehicles, composite chassis, super-efficient or high power engines, electric bicycles and scooters, advanced batteries, lubricant additives, and electric power generation, (for information, see BAT International's web site at www.baat.com).

This press release contains forward-looking statements that should not be used to make an investment decision. Please refer to the BAT International web site and other sources for more detailed Company information (Investor Relations: 619/409-8977).

(a) NOTE TO EDITORS: The URL Address should read (www.senate.gov/(tilde)y2k/)