Voith Turbo Selects Maxwell Technologies' Ultracapacitor Modules for Low-Emission, Fuel-Efficient, Hybrid Transit Bus Drive Systems

SAN DIEGO, March 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Maxwell Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: MXWL) announced today that Voith Turbo, a leading producer of heavy vehicle drive systems, has selected Maxwell's 125-volt BOOSTCAP® ultracapacitor modules for braking energy recuperation and torque assist in low-emission, fuel-efficient, hybrid-electric transit bus drive systems.

Voith and Maxwell have entered into a strategic supply agreement through which Maxwell is Voith's exclusive supplier of ultracapacitor modules assembled in the United States to meet local content requirements.

"Voith has booked various hybrid system orders for the California based transit bus manufacturer, Gillig LLC," said Robert Wiss, Voith Turbo's V.P. Road Division for the US market.  "Gillig has also completed system tests at the Altoona Bus Research and Testing Facility, a test center for new model buses and technology and I'm very pleased with the overall durability and performance the system has shown."  

"Ultracapacitors' high braking energy recuperation efficiency, long operational life and reliable performance in all climates make them an ideal energy storage solution for demanding public transportation applications," continues Wiss. "Our parallel hybrid drive transmission system 'DIWAhybrid' enables transit buses to improve fuel economy by as much as 35 percent compared with standard diesel buses."

"Our HTM125 heavy transportation module is the result of extensive work with Voith and other leading heavy transportation OEMs to develop a robust multi-cell module to withstand the harsh environments and repetitive cycling that are typical for buses and electric rail vehicles," said David Schramm, Maxwell's president and chief executive officer. "The HTM125 meets transportation industry requirements for watt-hours of energy storage and watts of power delivery per kilogram, and is designed to perform reliably through one million or more deep discharge cycles, or about 10 years of operational life for most vehicles."

The HTM125 is encased in a rugged, splash-proof, IP 65-compliant, aluminum chassis, weighs less than 60kg and measures 315x425x744mm. Integrated monitoring capabilities and a highly efficient cooling configuration enable it to sustain continuous current of up to 150 amps with minimal temperature increase in high-temperature environments. Its modular design makes it a versatile building block to satisfy various application requirements, and up to 12 modules may be linked in series to deliver a total of as much as 1,500 volts. Maxwell also offers a complete line of standard 15- to 75-volt multi-cell modules. Data sheets for all of Maxwell's multi-cell module products can be found at http://www.maxwell.com/ultracapacitors/products/index.asp.

About Voith: Voith Turbo, the specialist for hydrodynamic drive, coupling and braking systems for road, rail and industrial applications, as well as for ship propulsion systems, is a Group Division of Voith AG. Voith is setting the standard in the paper, energy, mobility, and service markets. Established on January 1, 1867, Voith is now one of the largest family-owned businesses in Europe, with 39,000 employees, 7 billion USD in sales, and over 280 locations worldwide. http://www.voithturbo.com.

About Maxwell: Maxwell is a leading developer and manufacturer of innovative, cost-effective energy storage and power delivery solutions. Our BOOSTCAP® ultracapacitor cells and multi-cell modules provide safe and reliable power solutions for applications in consumer and industrial electronics, transportation and telecommunications. Our CONDIS® high-voltage grading and coupling capacitors help to ensure the safety and reliability of electric utility infrastructure and other applications involving transport, distribution and measurement of high-voltage electrical energy. Our radiation-mitigated microelectronic products include power modules, memory modules and single board computers that incorporate powerful commercial silicon for superior performance and high reliability in aerospace applications. Follow Maxwell on Twitter at @Maxwell_Tech, join us on Facebook, or visit us at http://maxwell.com.  

Forward-Looking Statements: Statements in this news release that are "forward-looking statements" are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors such as:

• development and acceptance of products based on new technologies;
• demand for original equipment manufacturers' products reaching anticipated levels;
• general economic conditions in the markets served by the company's products;
• cost-effective manufacturing of new products;
• the impact of competitive products and pricing;
• risks and uncertainties involved in foreign operations, including the impact of currency fluctuations;
• product liability or warranty claims in excess of our reserves.

For further information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with Maxwell's business, please refer to the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors" sections of Maxwell's SEC filings, including, but not limited to, our annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, copies of which may be obtained by contacting our investor relations department at (858) 503-3300 or at our investor relations website at http://maxwell.investorroom.com/index.php?s=127.

All information in this release is as of March 3, 2010. The company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the company's expectations.

SOURCE Maxwell Technologies, Inc.