Press releases

FTA Funds ISE Corporation in Multiple Contracts to Develop Commercially Viable Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses

SAN DIEGO, CA, October 13, 2006 — ISE Corporation is featured in multiple programs in Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding announced Thursday, Oct. 12 by FTA Administrator James Simpson, SunLine General Manager Michael Oglesby, and Congresswoman Mary Bono. Bono and Simpson announced the award of $49 million in federal grants following a tour of SunLine Transit's Sunfuels Fueling Station in Thousand Palms, California.

The FTA fundings provide multiple programs that are focused on making hydrogen fuel cell buses a commercial reality. "ISE is honored to have been selected to participate in four teams (the most of any firm) and believes that this will enable us to maintain our lead in fuel cell technologies for transportation applications," said President and CEO of ISE Corporation David Mazaika. "We intend to use these funds to advance the technology and bring fuel cell vehicles one giant step closer to commercialization."

The four programs ISE Corporation will have key participation in include:

Massachusetts Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powered Buses for Logan International Airport ($4,875,000). - ISE will integrate a Nuvera 82 kW fuel cell with ISE's ThunderVolt® drive system to provide fuel cell buses for shuttle service at the Logan International Airport. Partners include: Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), Boston, MA; MBTA, Boston, MA; Nuvera Fuel Cells; Keyspan; AVSG.

WMATA/Ballard Fuel Cell Bus Program ($6,120,000) - ISE will integrate next generation Ballard 155 kW automotive fuel cell stack (Mk902) with ISE ThunderVolt® hybrid drive system (using either ultracapacitors or batteries) in two New Flyer 40-foot buses and operate them for up to 2 years. Partners include: Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA), Washington, DC; Ballard; New Flyer; Shell Hydrogen; Booz Allen Hamilton.

American Advanced Fuel Cell Bus Program ($2,832,000) - ISE and New Flyer will collaborate in the development of a new bus design incorporating the latest in energy saving technologies. This bus will include a new model UTC fuel cell as well as the most recent ISE drive system components. The demonstration of this new 40-foot fuel cell bus will include in service evaluation in the Palm Springs hot desert climate. Partners include: SunLine Transit Agency, Thousand Palms, CA; New Flyer Industries; UTC Power.

Transit HyRoad: Commercialization of Fuel Cells for Public Transit ($3,575,000) - ISE will provide service and technical support to monitor and optimize the ThunderVolt® drive system and energy storage system as part of the accelerated testing to failure (partial phase 1) of existing fuel cell buses. Partners include: Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit), Oakland, CA; SunLine Transit Agency, Thousand Palms, CA; Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission; UTC Power; Van Hool.

"ISE sees the FTA awards as a result of widespread recognition of continued ISE leadership in heavy-duty hydrogen vehicles," said Gary Willms, ISE V.P. Business Development. "It is particularly notable that these awards include collaboration with three leading fuel cell manufacturers and three types of transit buses, so we look forward to the opportunity to work with several new customers and suppliers during these very important projects".

The multimillion dollar national grant was made possible through the National Fuel Cell Bus Technology Development Program, which was part of the recently enacted Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). Project partners are contributing cost share to or in excess of the FTA contribution.

About ISE Corporation:
ISE Corporation, based in San Diego, is a leading supplier of hybrid drive systems and components for heavy-duty vehicles such as buses, trucks, trams, airport equipment, and military vehicles. ISE is a world leader in electric, hybrid-electric, and fuel cell technologies, and the U.S. distributor for Siemens ELFA® electric and hybrid-electric drive components. www.isecorp.com

Contact:
Gary Willms
Vice President of Business Development
gwillms@isecorp.com

Paul Scott
Chief Science Officer
pscott@isecorp.com

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