QUANTUM Receives Award for Hydrogen Storage Tank
IRVINE, Calif., May 14 - QUANTUM Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of IMPCO Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:IMCO), announced today that Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories (LLNL) was awarded the prestigious Technology Innovation Award by the Hydrogen Technical Advisory Panel (HTAP) for achieving a breakthrough in advanced hydrogen storage technology as a collaborative effort with QUANTUM and ATK Thiokol Propulsion, an operating company of Alliant Techsystems (NYSE:ATK). HTAP was established by Congress to review U.S. Department of Energy programs and to be an advisory committee to the Secretary of Energy.
In August 2000, a team of scientists from QUANTUM, LLNL, and Thiokol successfully hydroburst-tested a high performance prototype hydrogen storage cylinder designed for Fuel Cell Vehicle applications (FCVs) and achieved a performance record of 11.3% hydrogen storage by weight at 5,000 psig (350 Bar). Once commercialized, this breakthrough in technology extends the range of fuel cell vehicles to the equivalent of gasoline vehicles. HTAP singled out the work of this team for the significant advances of this project toward the development of high cycle-life energy storage systems for various applications including zero emission vehicles, pushing the envelope for lightweight compressed hydrogen storage tanks, and developing products for commercial use.
"DOE has been funding and reviewing hydrogen production, storage, and distribution programs since the early 1990's, and now, by virtue of this award, it is evident that the HTAP recognizes the strides made in direct on-board hydrogen storage that are cost-effective, durable, and safe for automotive use," according to Dr. Neel Sirosh, Director of QUANTUM's Advanced Fuel Storage Group. "We are now translating this innovative technology into fully validated commercial products for our automotive OEM customers," said Dr. Sirosh.
QUANTUM's TriShield hydrogen storage tanks are uniquely designed and manufactured with a one-piece permeation-resistant seamless liner, a high-performance carbon composite over-wrap for strength, and a proprietary, tough impact-resistant shell. The tank is designed to meet all applicable regulatory standards and OEM-specific validation tests.
QUANTUM Technologies Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of IMPCO Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:IMCO). QUANTUM is focused on the development of enabling fuel storage technologies for manufacturers of alternative propulsion and energy for emerging global markets.
For more information, please contact:
Alan Niedzwiecki, Executive Director, Business Development,
QUANTUM Technologies Inc. Tel: (949) 399-4552
Sigmund "Sig" Gronich
US Department of Energy Tel: (202) 586-1623
Dr. Andrew Weisberg
Lawrence Livermore National Labs Tel: (925) 422-7293
Andy Haaland, Project Manager
ATK Thiokol Propulsion Tel: (435) 863-6373
Certain matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current trends. These include the company's ability to design and market advanced fuel metering, fuel storage or electronic control products, the company's ability to meet OEM specifications, and other such risks as cited in the 2000 annual report on Form 10-K for IMPCO Technologies, Inc., and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.