Astris Energi Delivers Portable Fuel Cell System to Czech Military.

Business Editors

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 22, 2000

Astris Energi Inc. (OTCBB: ASRF) Tuesday announced that its affiliate, Astris S.R.O. in Benesov, the Czech Republic, has delivered a fully functional portable fuel cell generator to the Czech Ministry of National Defense.

According to Jiri K. Nor, president, this milestone is the culmination of a three-year program to develop and evaluate portable, fuel cell-based power sources to be used by the military.

The Model E5B is a complete, self-contained working fuel cell system based on Astris's proven alkaline fuel cell technology, Nor said.

"It demonstrates the feasiblity and practicality of small portable fuel cell systems, and also confirms the capability of Astris to fully engineer and produce fuel cell systems for use in the field."

The generator is fueled by gaseous hydrogen and air as the oxidizer, Nor explained. An integral hyrdrogen fuel tank with a capacity of 5.1 liters compressed to 3,000 pounds per square inch, provides 1.5 kilowatt-hours of electrical output. Refueling from a compressed hydrogen supply takes only a minute via a quick disconnect pressure port, he said.

A conditioning circuit, with a pressure reducer and valves, delivers low pressure hydrogen to two I.ABCELL.LC200-20 fuel cell stack with 12 volt DC output. An air pump and dry CO2 scrubber condition the ambient air for delivery to the stacks.

Liquid electrolyte circulated through the stacks by a small pump provides convenient means for water and heat management, in response to varying loads. Overall electrical system efficiency is 50 percent at full load, according to Nor.

An auxiliary lead-acid battery provides power during the approximate one-minute start-up sequence, Nor said, providing the same functions as the starter battery in an automobile.

"One of the many reasons the military prefers alkaline fuel cells is their inherent ability to start and work even in conditions of deep freeze, at temperatures down to -40 degrees centrigrade, whereas the polymer membrane cells other companies are developing are either unable to function at such low temperatures or are irreversibly damaged," Nor noted.

Another related drawback of membrane cells, he added, is that the membrane must be in a humid, wet condition to function properly. Water freezing inside the cell may cause damage similar to frozen pipes in home plumbing.

The E5B generator design follows the concepts well established in earlier Astris fuel cell systems, but introduces several technological refinements which improve ruggedness, reliability and durability, Nor concluded.

Note: Any statements contained in this release that are not statements of fact may be considered "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined under U.S. Federal security laws. Forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual events or results.