FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AFS TRINITY FILES NEW PATENTS FOR PLUG-IN DRIVETRAIN
EXPECTED TO RESULT IN THE FIRST MONEY-SAVING HYBRID CARS
250 miles per gallon plus low-cost batteries
SEATTLE, WA, September 14, 2006 . . . A new patent
application filed today by AFS Trinity Power Corporation could make
paying more to own a hybrid car a thing of the past, according to
AFS Trinity Power Corporation CEO Edward W. Furia.
Furia said, "Mileage savings obtained from driving
conventional hybrids are not large enough to offset their higher
purchase prices that are linked to their expensive battery packs.
Battery cost becomes even more important for plug-in hybrids. By
providing much higher mileage and using low-cost batteries, AFS
Trinity expects its Extreme Hybrid drive train to make possible
the first money-saving hybrid vehicles of any kind. Drivers should
expect the Extreme Hybrid to pay for itself in five years
or less depending on your driving habits and the future price of
gasoline."

"Today's patent filing addresses the architecture,
power electronics and control strategies of the Extreme Hybrid
(XH) drive train. These technologies, which can be likened
to the 'brain or control tower' of the system, will allow vehicles
containing an XH drive train to enjoy the economies of scale
possible with the use of lower cost lithium-ion "energy"
batteries similar to the hundreds of millions of cells found in
inexpensive consumer electronics," Furia said.
Donald Bender, AFS Trinity Chief Technology Officer,
added, "These lithium-ion 'energy batteries' are expected to
cost $200 to $300/kWh for this type of cell. They are different
from the lithium-ion 'power batteries' that are expected to be used
by other hybrids and plug-in hybrids and that are now found in some
power tools. Such 'power batteries' currently cost as much as $750/kWH
and are not expected to go below $500/kWh in five years. We also
expect that the lower cost lithium-ion batteries that the XH
will use will out-perform any known nickel-metal hydride (NiMH)
batteries as well," Bender said.
Furia continued, "By delivering 250 miles per
gallon the way most Americans drive, the Extreme Hybrid will
save its owners an average of $12,000 in gas and operating costs
over five years and $22,000 over ten years. This is based on $2.85
a gallon of gasoline and off-peak electric power priced at 6¢
per kWh. Of course, it will pay for itself even faster as gasoline
gets more expensive."
AFS Trinity's Extreme Hybrid drive train will
be used in plug-in hybrid vehicles that can be recharged at night
and then drive up to 40 miles on electric power alone. Unlike some
of today's prototype plug-in hybrids and conversions, the Extreme
Hybrid will be able to drive in all-electric mode at highway
speeds. Its all-electric range will cover the commuting needs of
most American drivers, resulting in no gasoline use during their
daily trips to and from work. Once the all-electric range is exceeded,
the Extreme Hybrid will operate like today's conventional
hybrids by using its gasoline or diesel engine in combination with
electric power, thereby extending its range to 500 miles or more.
The Extreme Hybrid differs from other plug-in
hybrid designs in significant ways, including that it uses ultracapacitors
in combination with lithium-ion batteries so that the batteries
can be both charged and deep-discharged without overheating or becoming
less reliable. Instead of the batteries delivering the short bursts
of power needed for acceleration, the ultracapacitors do this work.
The ultracaps also capture the regenerative braking energy from
stopping and driving down hills. The ultracaps make possible the
use of the lower-cost lithium-ion batteries, further described above,
that are optimized for energy delivery, not power delivery. Such
energy batteries are both lighter and less expensive than the power
batteries used in other hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
designs.
Today's filing is the latest addition to AFS Trinity's
extensive intellectual property portfolio, which includes the first
XH patent application originally provisionally filed in the
U.S. in May 2005, and filed again as a non-provisional U.S. and
international patent application in May 2006. This patent covered
the Fast Energy Storage components of the Extreme Hybrid
drive train and its ability to supply power back to the grid for
load following or voltage stability (so-called V2G application).
For more about the May '06 XH patent filings see www.afstrinity.com/cmp-press-rel-5-4-06.html.
Furia said the company is in discussions with
major auto makers and other entities within and outside the U.S.
regarding building the first XH prototypes.
In December 2005 AFS Trinity signed a Technology
Partnership Agreement regarding plug-in hybrids with UK-based Ricardo,
the world's leading automotive engineering firm. See www.afstrinity.com/cmp-press-rel.html.
In August 2006 AFS Trinity signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with Austin Energy, founding participant in PluginPartners,
a consortium of U.S. municipalities and utilities, providing them
the first opportunity to test 50 or more AFS Trinity XH demonstration
vehicles. For more information about this accord, see www.afstrinity.com/cmp-press-rel-8-15-06.html.
About AFS Trinity Power Corporation
AFS Trinity Power is a privately-owned Delaware
corporation headquartered in Bellevue, WA, that has engaged in the
development of Fast Energy Storage power systems for vehicular,
spacecraft and stationary power systems. The Company has conducted
development programs with private and government organizations including
DARPA, NASA, the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, U.S. DOT, California Energy
Commission, Oak Ridge National Laboratories, Lawrence Livermore
National Labs, Lockheed and Honeywell. American Flywheel Systems,
Inc (AFS) received the first patent ever given for a flywheel battery
in 1992 and merged with Trinity Flywheel Power to create AFS Trinity
Power in 2000. AFS Trinity and Ricardo, Inc. have signed a mutually
exclusive Technology Partnership Agreement to develop the Extreme
Hybrid, the technology which is the subject of ongoing U.S.
and international patent filings. For more information, see www.afstrinity.com.
About Ricardo
With its North American headquarters in Van Buren
Twp., Michigan, Ricardo has been a world-leading vehicle system
and powertrain technology provider for automotive manufacturers,
heavy-duty manufacturers and tier one suppliers since 1915. The
company provides expertise ranging from designing and developing
engines, transmissions and drivelines, to integrating vehicle systems
and creating software solutions, to developing gasoline, diesel,
hybrid and fuel cell technology. Ricardo is committed to excellence
and industry leadership in people, technology and knowledge. In
addition to playing a major role in the development of AFS Trinity's
Extreme Hybrid drive train, Ricardo intends to assist automotive
OEMs who will be able to license the XH drive train for use
in their own vehicles. A public company based in the U.K., Ricardo
plc posted sales of $272 million in fiscal year 2005 and is a part
of the FTSE techMark 100 index-a group of innovative technology
companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. For more information,
see www.ricardo.com.
About Austin Energy & Plug-In Partners
Launched by the city of Austin, Texas, and its municipally-owned
and operated electric utility, Austin Energy, Plug-in Partners'
goal is to demonstrate to automakers that a market exists for plug-in
hybrid vehicles by recruiting partners in local governments, national
security organizations, utilities and civic and environmental groups.
The hope is that with sufficient public interest and demand, carmakers,
who have been reluctant to invest in the technology, will respond
with viable, affordable products, from cars to delivery vans. Since
its launch in January 2006, most of the 50 largest U.S. cities,
other municipalities, many States, Councils of Governments (COGs)
and over 200 of the nation's electric utilities have become participants
in Plug-in Partners. These organizations are expected to issue thousands
of purchase orders to lease or buy the first PHEVs for their fleets.
The US Conference of Mayors and other national municipal, security,
civic and environmental organizations have endorsed the PIP initiative.
For more information, see www.austinenergy.com and www.pluginpartners.com.
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Some statements in this news release are forward-looking. These statements may
be identified by the use of words such as "will," "expects," "believes," "targets,"
"intends," and words of similar import. Actual results may vary depending on
circumstances both within and outside the control of the Company including market
acceptance of products, technology development cycles and other risk factors. AFS
Trinity Power Corporation takes no responsibility for updating any forward-looking
statements made in this release.
Extreme Hybrid™, XH™, Fast Energy™, and Fast Energy Storage™
are trademarks pending of AFS Trinity Power Corporation.
© 2005 AFS Trinity Power Corp. - Patents Pending
All Rights Reserved.
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