Strasbourg, FRANCE – October 13, 2011 – Dow Kokam announced today during the National Days of Public Transportation, an agreement to supply advanced lithium-ion battery systems to Safra, a hybrid bus manufacturer in France. Dow Kokam will provide advanced battery system solutions to Safra’s Businova. Businova is a revolutionary urban bus powered by a multi-hybrid engine that draws from three energy sources: an electric engine, a hydraulic motor and combustion engine that work together to automatically power the vehicle. The propulsion system allows for a dramatically more energy-efficient vehicle, and reduces the consumption of diesel by more than 55 percent compared to conventional buses. The Businova will begin test operations in the French towns of Albi and Toulouse starting in 2012.

“Safra has unveiled a truly revolutionary product with its multi-hybrid system that will combine the best of electric, hydraulic and combustion engines reducing emissions dramatically while providing a solution that will save bus operators in Europe time and costs,” said Jean Francois Herchin, Vice President of Dow Kokam. “Dow Kokam provides Safra leading battery system solutions, reliable supply and European-based sales and service aimed at supporting Safra in its growth plans with Businova as well as further product expansions.”

Safra selected Dow Kokam’s superior advanced battery technology to power the electric engine of Businova’s multi-hybrid engine due to its proven performance. Dow Kokam will supply both a 105 kWh hour lithium-ion battery system and a 35 kWh auxiliary battery system to power the Businova’s e-motor. The multi-hybrid technology provides an eco-friendly low energy consumption answer to traditional fossil fuel powered buses, that is easy to use and maintain which will help reduce the total cost of ownership for bus operators over the vehicle’s life-span.

“Safra partnered with Dow Kokam to power our unique multi-hybrid engine because of its 10 years proven advanced lithium-ion battery technology, reliability of its technology and the company’s insight and knowledge of the unique demands and needs of hybrid buses,” said Vincent Lemaire, President, Safra. “Safra, in partnership with Dow Kokam’s cutting edge technology, offers ready solutions for the next generation of buses today.”

Unlike other buses, the Businova has been designed to offer a new experience for passengers and drivers. The Businova complies with the current bus standards of low-floor, easy boarding for wheelchair users and people with restricted mobility. The multi-hybrid engine of the Businova is located under the ‘glass rotunda,’ which will allow passengers a quiet ride while also providing access for a panoramic rear view.

Dow Kokam batteries bring the reliability of more than 10 years of proven performance in demanding applications and have been adopted as the primary source of energy in high performance applications in industries ranging from transportation, marine, aerospace, defense and high-end industrial products.

About Dow Kokam

Dow Kokam brings technologically advanced and economically viable battery solutions to the transportation, defense, industrial and medical industries.  Uniting Dow, Kokam America and Dassault SVE creates the first battery and energy management systems manufacturer to combine viable, scalable large-format battery technology with the market franchise, manufacturing expertise and market knowledge necessary to become the clear partner of choice across industries.

Dow Kokam was established in 2009 to develop and manufacture advanced energy storage technologies for the transportation and other industries. The company is owned by The Dow Chemical Company, TK Advanced Battery LLC and Groupe Industriel Marcel Dassault.

About Safra

SAFRA (Société Albigeoise de Fabrication et Réparation Automobile), a family business, was founded in 1955 by Roger BODOIRA whose prime vocation was coach-building.

SAFRA has three distinct activities:

• The Body Shop department specializes in car repairs (paint and bodywork) and breakdown service for all types and makes of light vehicles, whether privately owned, professional fleets or leased.
• The Commercial Body Shop specializes in the provision of equipment, the fitting out and heavy maintenance of urban passenger transport vehicles. Specializing in the renovation of standard and articulated buses, SAFRA has recently extended its expertise to the rail sector: trams, undergrounds and rail carriages.
• The Shop fitting Workshop specializes in the fitting out of service industry areas (shops, workplaces…) as well as special vehicles.

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Dow Kokam and the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory are working together to enhance the Michigan-based company’s capabilities to develop and commercialize advanced lithium ion batteries.

The relationship, formalized today with the signing of an agreement worth up to $5.5 million over six years, supplements Dow Kokam’s overall research and development strategy by providing specialized technical and research management expertise to the company. Many of the specialized battery development capabilities that are part of this effort are exclusive to ORNL.

“Our partnership with ORNL reinforces Dow Kokam’s commitment to focus its R&D efforts directly on performance improving advancements that have rapid commercial utility for our customers and their end users, primarily in the highly demanding transportation, utility and defense markets,” said Ravi Shanker, president and chief executive officer of Dow Kokam. “By augmenting our direct R&D capabilities and investments with access to the most state-of-the-art resources and expertise in the industry, Dow Kokam aims to set the new standard for advanced battery performance.”

This agreement builds on a successful partnership stemming from a collaborative research and development agreement funded by the Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and Dow Kokam.

A team of a dozen ORNL researchers will provide support in the areas of electrochemical and microstructural analysis, in-line quality control process development, raw material characterization and processing battery components. Other aspects of the effort will focus on new technology evaluation and technical strategic advice designed to optimize Dow Kokam’s materials and manufacturing processes. This work builds on a cooperative research and development agreement that began in February 2010.

The project also aligns directly with goals outlined in the recent report titled “Ensuring American Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing.” The report was prepared by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and the President’s Innovation and Technology Advisory Committee.

A key recommendation of the 25-member panel was to “invest to overcome market failures, to ensure that new technologies and design methodologies are developed here, and that technology-based enterprises have their infrastructure to flourish.”

Through an Advanced Manufacturing Initiative, American businesses could collaborate through applied research programs to solve manufacturing problems.

The report is available at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp/pressroom/06242011.

Under terms of the agreement, any support furnished to Dow Kokam will be done by ORNL on a full-cost reimbursement basis.

Dow Kokam was established in 2009 to develop and manufacture technologically advanced and economically viable battery solutions for the transportation, defense, industrial and medical industries. The company is owned by The Dow Chemical Company, TK Advanced Battery LLC and Groupe Industriel Marcel Dassault (Dassault).