Ener1 Joins Volvo in Washington, DC Seminar on Electric Vehicle Safety

WASHINGTON, June 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Ener1, Inc. (NASDAQ: HEV), a leading manufacturer of lithium-ion energy storage systems for transportation, utility grid and industrial applications, will join host Volvo Car Corporation for a seminar here today at the Embassy of Sweden on the issue of safety in electric vehicles.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080312/CLW018LOGO )

"We are proud to be able to contribute to Volvo's efforts to highlight safety as a fundamental issue in the new wave of electric cars before policymakers and other key audiences in the U.S. capital," commented Ener1 CEO Charles Gassenheimer.  "Ener1 has achieved a reputation for manufacturing the safest electric vehicle batteries in the market and we are committed to partnering with Volvo to help them put the safest electric vehicles on the road around the world."

Ener1 supplies a specially designed split battery for Volvo's C30 Electric, which is being deployed in test fleets in Europe, Asia and the U.S.  Based on established standards, crash test results and on-road performance data -- and combined with the Ener1 lithium-ion battery system -- the C30 Electric is expected to be one of the safest and most reliable electrics offered today.  Ener1 this week initiated the second production run of batteries for the Volvo vehicle at its plant in Indianapolis, where the company also manufactures grid-level energy storage battery installations as well as small-pack batteries for industrial applications.

"We believe our relationship with Ener1 is a positive step towards combining American technology and manufacturing skills with Scandinavian car engineering to bring a superior offering to a growing market segment," said Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby.

Mr. Gassenheimer will participate with Mr. Jacoby in a seminar titled "Innovation Towards Zero," referring to zero automotive carbon-dioxide emissions, as well as ultimately zero in-car fatalities.  Other speakers include representatives of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and the U.S. Department of Energy.

In advance of the event, Mr. Gassenheimer commented further: "Volvo and Ener1 share a common view on the primacy of safety and on the question of electric vehicle market penetration.  We both believe that the market will hit strong growth in the 2013-2015 timeframe, as charging infrastructure expands, prices decrease and, particularly, battery leasing models develop and become widespread.  It should be similar to the 'hockey-stick' growth curves we've seen previously in other technology sectors – relatively flat for an initial short span and then a long, steep upward climb."

To ensure the battery is safely located outside of the crumple zones, Ener1 has developed a split battery specifically for Volvo with one half located in the central tunnel between the seats and the other under the rear seats, where the gas tank would normally be located.  The battery represents a multi-million-dollar development effort.  It features Ener1's comprehensive battery management system, which is integrated with the electronics and vehicle control systems of the C30.  In the event of a collision, the crash sensor in the car cuts power in 50 milliseconds via the same signal that deploys the airbag.

About Ener1, Inc.

Ener1, Inc. is a publicly traded (NASDAQ:HEV) energy storage technology company that develops compact, lithium-ion-powered battery solutions for the transportation, utility grid and industrial electronics markets.  Headquartered in New York City, the company has more than 700 employees with manufacturing locations in the United States and Korea.  Ener1 also develops commercial fuel cell products and nanotechnology-based materials. 

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements made in this press release constitute forward-looking statements that are based on management's expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "believes," "scheduled," "estimates" and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual future results and trends may differ materially from what is forecast in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and the company does not undertake any obligation to update or publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or changes in expectations after the date of this press release.

Media Contact:
Brian Sinderson
+1 212.920.3500 X117
[email protected]

SOURCE Ener1, Inc.