Protonex Awarded Contract to Demonstrate UGV Power Sources

(Southborough, MA., April 1, 2008) -- Protonex Technology Corporation (LSE: AIM: PTX and PTXU), a leading provider of advanced fuel cell power systems for portable, remote and mobile applications, today announces that it will integrate a Protonex fuel cell power system into an Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) robot under an awarded $537,249 contract with Advanced Technology Institute's Next Generation Manufacturing Technology Initiative (ATI-NGMTI), to demonstrate extended UGV functional and endurance capabilities. This program builds upon continuing developments by Protonex on extended duration power sources for small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

As part of ATI-NGMTI's program initiative, Protonex will integrate its Pulse UGV advanced fuel cell power platform into a TALON robotic UGV from Foster- Miller, Inc. (a QinetiQ company). The proposed fuel cell-battery hybrid power system will be capable of delivering approximately 200 watts of continuous power and will also meet peak power demand of the robot as needed. Protonex will combine the high power density of its fuel cell systems with a high energy density chemical hydride fuel to significantly extend the duration and mission capabilities of the existing TALON UGV robotics platforms.

Based on data from its breakthrough flight demonstrations on long-duration UAV systems, the Protonex Pulse UGV power system is expected to increase the operational time of the TALON UGV platform by approximately 2.5 to 3.5 times the existing battery systems; thus enabling expanded capabilities for UGVs including persistent surveillance, chemical- biological monitoring and border patrol.

"This UGV program with ATI-NGMTI represents another important milestone for Protonex and an opportunity for us to expand the range of vehicles into which our power sources can effectively be integrated," stated Dr. Paul Osenar, Chief Technology Officer for Protonex Technology Corporation. "The success we've had demonstrating breakthroughs in UAV flight duration and payload capacity over traditional battery powered solutions has enabled us to tap into a wider range of military and commercial applications. We expect these efforts to yield a significant market opportunity for our fuel cell power solutions."

Source : Protonex Technology Corp.

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