Axion Announces TurboStart Batteries and e3 Supercell Battery/Supercap Hybrids
Axion Power International, Inc. announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Axion Battery Products, Inc. has shipped an initial order of five hundred 16-volt TurboStart™ Racing Batteries to Jerry Bickel Race Cars, Inc. of Moscow Mills, Missouri; an internationally renowned builder of high quality race cars, chassis systems and components for professional drivers on the NHRA Championship Drag Racing Circuit.
Axion is also preparing to introduce a new generation of rechargeable energy storage devices that are part lead-acid battery and part supercapacitor. Axion calls these devices "e3 Supercells." Where lead-acid batteries use lead-based electrodes for both the positive and negative electrodes, e3 Supercells use lead-based positive electrodes and carbon-based negative electrodes. e3 Supercells are expected to use from 40% to 70% less lead while offering longer cycle life; higher power; and faster recharge rates.
In addition, e3 Supercells will be maintenance free and far less likely to fail prematurely or be damaged by overcharging or other improper use. Axion believes its e3 Supercell technology represents the first major advance in lead-acid battery technology in 30 years. Axion is implementing a platform technology business model, where it will eventually manufacture electrode assemblies for sale to established battery manufacturers that want to offer a high-performance co-branded product.
Jerry Bickel, President of Jerry Bickel Race Cars, Inc., said, "We pride ourselves in building the highest quality race cars in the country. When we learned that the TurboStart racing batteries were being built again, we wanted them for our cars so we immediately put in a sizeable order. The TurboStart battery is made in America and represents the quality that we could not obtain from overseas manufacturers. We are quite pleased to renew our relationship with the TurboStart Team."
Thomas Granville, Axion's chief executive officer, said, "As the only North American manufacturer of a 16-volt race car battery, we are very pleased that Jerry Bickel and other motor sport professionals are responding rapidly and positively as we work to re-establish our TurboStart brand as the battery of choice for professional motor sports. The fact that Jerry has demonstrated his faith in Axion by being first in line with a major TurboStart order further validates our confidence in the long-term value of our TurboStart brand."
"In May we will resume production of our Antique Collector Car battery series. As one of two North American manufacturers that make specialty batteries for the collector car market, we expect to rapidly expand production in this high value market and focus on re-establishing our nationwide distribution network."
"We believe the professional racing and collector car markets will generate sufficient sales to make our lead-acid battery production a profitable line of business by the end of Q-3 2006. These niche market products only require a fraction of our total capacity, so their production will not affect the primary focus of our business model which is the manufacture of our proprietary e3 Supercells for product testing, field demonstrations and high value industrial markets."
