International Battery Names Power and Energy Veteran
Dr. Ake Almgren President and CEO
Former Secretary of Transportation, Rodney Slater Joins Board of Directors
ALLENTOWN, Pa – June 8, 2009 ¬– International Battery (www.internationalbattery.com), a U.S. manufacturer, designer, and developer of large-format lithium-ion rechargeable cells and batteries, today announced the appointment of Ake Almgren as CEO and President.
Almgren brings more than 30 years experience in managing and leading well respected power and energy companies. Prior to joining International Battery, he was the CEO and President of Capstone Turbine Corporation, where he successfully brought the company from early stage to a world-leading commercial producer of micro turbines. Prior to Capstone, he spent an accomplished 26-year career at ABB, a worldwide power solutions company. While there, he served as President of various business entities including ABB Power T&D Company Inc., ABB Power Distribution and ABB Power Systems. In these capacities, Almgren led operations from high-volume commodity products to advanced engineered solutions. Before relocating to the U.S. in 1991, Almgren was President of Autoliv, a leading automotive restraint systems company. Under his leadership, Autoliv established a North American presence and expanded product lines including airbags.
I“This is an exciting time to advance and bring to market lithium ion batteries for energy storage – a key technology for emerging plug-in vehicles and renewable energy markets,” said Almgren. “Developing and producing large format lithium batteries here in the U.S. will help to support the efforts to reduce our carbon footprint and increase our national energy independence.”
In addition, the company’s Board of Directors has expanded to include the appointment of Secretary Rodney Earl Slater. “We’re delighted to have Secretary Slater join the Board. He brings invaluable perspective and deep experience, not to mention a genuine combination of enthusiasm and realism to the challenges of bringing new products in to transportation markets,” said Almgren.
Rodney Slater was Secretary of Transportation under President William J. Clinton, where he passed several historic legislative initiatives during his tenure. After Clinton became president, Slater served as director of the Federal Highway Administration and is currently a Partner in Washington D.C.-based Patton Boggs where he helps clients advance transportation systems of the 21st Century. “It’s a pleasure to join an American company that is poised to realize many policies I’ve worked on for years, and to bring advanced next-generation technologies to the U.S. transportation markets,” said Secretary Rodney Slater.
Secretary Slater joins a distinguished Board of Directors including:
• Dr. Ake Almgren, President of Battery International
• Mark Mills (Chairman), a founding partner in Digital Power Capital, a Wexford Capital affiliate
• Mark Ascolese, former Vice President, Eaton Powerware division, and current CEO of EDSA
• Peter Gross, Vice President Hewlett-Packard and former CEO of EYP Mission Critical Facilities
• Jack Keane, retired four-star general and former Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army and a defense analyst
• Thomas Schwartz, retired U.S. Army four star general who commanded the U.S. Army Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea
Commenting on the company’s development, Chairman Mark Mills said, “International Battery’s Allentown, Pa. factory is the first purpose-built commercial manufacturing of next-generation large-format lithium ion batteries in the United States. The company’s technology was originally based on an exclusive license from an established leading-edge Chinese battery manufacturing company. Today, International Battery has subsequently improved the product and process technologies. The company’s manufacturing process is inherently ‘green’ based on water instead of the common use of large quantities of organic solvent chemicals.”
For more information on International Batteries advanced Lithium-Ion cells and batteries, please visit their web site at: www.internationalbatteryinc.com or call (610) 366-3925.
About International Battery
Headquartered in Allentown, Pa., International Battery is a U.S. manufacturer, designer, and developer of large-format lithium-ion rechargeable cells and batteries for use in a wide range of transportation, industrial, electric utility, smart grid and military applications, employing a uniquely environmentally friendly manufacturing process.
Media Contact:
PJ Jennings
Jennings & Associates Communications, Inc.
760.471.7376
pj@jandacommunications.com
www.jandacommunications.com
In addition to historical information, this release may contain forward-looking statements. International Battery may, from time-to-time, make written or oral forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements encompass International Battery’s beliefs, expectations, hopes or intentions regarding future events. Words such as "expects," "intends," "believes," "anticipates," "should," "likely" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements included in this release are made as of the date hereof and are based on information available to International Battery as of such date. International Battery assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement. Actual results may vary, and may vary materially, from those anticipated, estimated, projected or expected for a number of reasons.
