Altair Nanotechnologies Expands Battery Initiative

Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. (Reno, NV), a developer of advanced ceramic nanomaterial technology, announced that it has expanded its research, product development, manufacturing, and marketing groups with the addition of 11 highly qualified advanced battery scientists, engineers, manufacturing, and marketing specialists. These battery experts and specialists, mainly comprised of former Delphi and GM employees, have worked for over a decade building expertise in the development and manufacture of advanced lithium battery technologies for automotive applications, including hybrid-electric vehicles (HEV), and other consumer, industrial, and military applications.

The mission of the expanded Altairnano battery team is to accelerate the development of Altairnano's proprietary next-generation, nano-structured, battery electrode materials and provide new capabilities to manufacture in-house prototype lithium-ion cells, batteries, and battery packs, and increase Altairnano's product application testing capabilities. The additional electrode materials research and development personnel will be located in Altairnano's corporate offices, laboratories, and manufacturing facility in Reno augmenting Altairnano's present research and development and manufacturing teams. New personnel for development, testing, and manufacturing of prototype lithium-ion cells, batteries, and battery packs incorporating Altairnano's nano-structured electrode materials for application development will move to a new facility located in central Indiana. Business development, marketing, and sales personnel will also be located in the Indiana facility, which is in close proximity to target markets and key suppliers.

"We are confident that the addition of this unique battery expertise and skills will strengthen Altairnano's battery initiative and increase our capability to demonstrate nano-structured electrode materials performance in cells, batteries, and battery pack products, which will be produced in our in-house manufacturing facility," commented Altairnano CEO and President Alan Gotcher. "Our patented technology, combined with the additional battery expertise, is expected to accelerate our efforts to bring to the marketplace our electrode materials in innovative lithium-ion-powered batteries that exhibit rapid charge and discharge, longer life, and a safe, environmentally clean (green) alternative energy source capable of replacing battery systems that are environmentally unfriendly and incapable of producing the high charge and discharge rates required to meet many demands for "green" batteries."