December 20, 2007 for immediate release
2007 Achievements Move ZPowerTM Silver-Zinc Rechargeable Batteries Forward To Commercial Launch in Mid-2008
CAMARILLO, CA – December 20, 2007 – ZPower, Inc., a leading global provider of silver-zinc, rechargeable battery technology for consumer electronic devices, comes to CES 2008 on the heels of a year filled with significant advances in terms of product development, process development and pilot scale production, increased company profile and organizational growth.
During the past year, the company made significant performance enhancements to its batteries. The ZPowerTM battery now offers up to 40 percent more run time than traditional lithium-ion batteries. Also, the company has made significant improvements in battery cycle life, achieving 250 to 300 cycles. As a result, ZPower will begin high-volume production of its batteries in mid 2008. The company is currently working with leading manufacturers of notebook computers, cell phones, and smart phones to incorporate silver-zinc technology in next generation products.
In the area of Clean Technology, ZPower was selected in September 2007 by AlwaysOn as one of the “GoingGreen 100 Top Private Companies” in the Energy Storage category for 2007. ZPower was recognized for its achievements in battery materials recycling.
To better represent its revolutionary silver-zinc battery technology, in July of this past year, the former Zinc Matrix Power changed its name to ZPower. The new name serves to better promote brand recognition and acts as both a company name and a product name. The company also enhanced its on-line presence by launching www.zpowerbattery.com. The new site offers an interactive slideshow built into the website which provides a step-by-step overview into silver-zinc battery technology.
In May of 2007, ZPower expanded its headquarters and pilot production. A 43,000 square-foot facility is now operational in Camarillo, California. The new facility is able to accommodate the growth of the organization and will help to improve operational systems and facilitate communications between research, development and production. ZPower is carrying out early manufacturing runs, pilot scale production and process development in its new Camarillo facility. Volume production will be launched in China in 2008 through ZPower’s contract manufacturing partner, Tyco Electronics. Several key executives were hired this year, including Dr. Biying Huang who comes to ZPower as Director of Product Development from A123 Systems where Huang worked as a Principal Research Scientist. Dr. Hieu Duong, who most recently spent four years at GE’s Global Research Center as a Research Scientist, joined ZPower as a Principal Development Scientist. Dr. Ken Kwan joined ZPower as a Senior Process Engineer. Kwan is the holder of six U.S. patents related to novel fabrication technology for micro-electronic system with 19 other patents under application. Damon Mikoy, formerly a Production Engineer at Cobasys, now serves as a Senior Manufacturing Engineer with ZPower.
Dr. Ross Dueber, President and CEO of ZPower, and Troy Renken, Vice President of Product Planning and Electronics have spoken at several high-profile industry panels this year. Dr. Dueber was a featured speaker in the Extended Battery Life (EBL) panel at the Fall 2007 Intel Developer Forum (IDF). Renken was part of EBL panel at the IDF in Taipei, Taiwan on October 16th. Renken was also a panel speaker at the 2007 Sprint IDF in Beijing, China. In May, Dr. Dueber was on hand at an MIT Panel in Palo Alto on “The Future of Battery and Fuel Cell Power” to discuss the issues surrounding portable power sources, as well as at the 24th International Battery Seminar held in March in Fort Lauderdale. Dr. Dueber has also spoken at the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) about silver-zinc rechargeable battery technology.
At CES 2008, ZPower was selected to participate in the session “Top 10 Technologies You’ve Never Head of.” This panel will be held on January 7th at noon at the Las Vegas Convention Center’s North Hall, room N255. ZPower will also be at the ShowStoppers@CES event on January 7th from 6-10pm at the Wynn Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
About ZPower, Inc.
ZPower, Inc. develops and produces high performance rechargeable silver-zinc batteries for mobile applications. The company currently holds 17 key patents on rechargeable silver-zinc batteries which offer up to 40% more run time than current lithium-ion batteries. ZPower has strategic partnerships with, and venture investments from, IntelTM Corporation, OnPointTM Technologies--a venture capital fund of the US Army, and PowerVentures--a large private equity group.
Contact Information:
Ross Dueber, Ph.D
ZPower, Inc.
(805) 445-7789
ross.dueber@zpowerbattery.com
Robin Hoffman
Pipeline Communications
(973) 746-6970
robinh@pipecomm.com