| Longueuil
(Québec, Canada) – May 3, 2005 – HERA,
Hydrogen Storage Systems Inc. (“HERA” or the “Company”)
is pleased to announce that it has become exclusive
licensee of a substantial intellectual property
(“IP”) portfolio developed by McGill University
in the field of advanced hydride materials for
hydrogen storage. McGill University , located in
Montreal , is one of the best-known and internationally
recognized universities in Canada and the most
research-intensive university in the country. HERA
is a leading developer of hydrogen-related technologies
and products based on hydrides and proprietary
nano-catalysts, for automotive, transportation
and hydrogen distribution applications, including
hydrogen storage .
The inventions include:
• Specific
advanced hydride materials based on light metals,
such as lithium, that have a reversible hydrogen
capacity of approximately 9% by weight;
• Modification
methods to synthesize and improve the performance
of, advanced hydrides, in particular various types
of alanates; and
• A
method of hydrogen generation based on reacting
advanced hydrides with alcohols and water/alcohol
mixtures (alcoholysis).
“This IP portfolio in conjunction with HERA's breakthough
nano-catalyst places HERA in a unique position to
provide solid-state, hydrogen storage systems for
mobile power applications including hydrogen powered
automobiles and portable power applications”, said
Mr. Clemens van Zeyl , HERA's President and CEO.
This
patent portfolio was developed and co-invented
by Professor John Str ö m-Olsen, the head
of McGill's Physics Department at the time, and
HERA's scientists Dr. Alicja Zaluska and Dr. Leszek
Zaluski during their tenure at McGill. The inventions
are protected by a total of twenty (20) patents
issued, and close to another thirty (30) patents
filed in North America, Europe and Asia .
“With this IP and our breakthrough nano-catalyst,
HERA has produced advanced hydrides with unsurpassed
performance compared to published industry results,
including recent publications made by automobile
OEMs”, said Dr. Alicja Zaluska , HERA's Chief Scientist
and R&D Manager.
"McGill has been a leader in hydrogen storage
for many years and its pioneering work is known internationally”,
said Dr. Str ö m-Olsen. “I am very pleased to
have McGill partner with HERA. I am confident that
HERA with this IP will develop a practical, low cost
hydrogen storage solution, one of the most critical
challenges of the emerging Hydrogen Economy”.
About McGill McGill University is Canada 's leading research-intensive
university and has earned an international reputation
for scholarly achievement and scientific discovery.
Founded in 1821, McGill has 21 faculties and professional
schools which offer more than 300 programs from the
undergraduate to the doctoral level. McGill attracts
renowned professors and researchers from around the
world and top students from more than 150 countries,
creating one of the most dynamic and diverse education
environments in North America . There are approximately
23,000 undergraduate students and 7,000 graduate
students. It is one of two Canadian members of the
American Association of Universities. McGill's two
campuses are located in Montreal , Canada .
About HERA
HERA, Hydrogen Storage Systems develops hydride
materials, hydrogen/hydride nano-catalysts and hydride-based
products for automotive, transportation and hydrogen
distribution markets. Hydrides are materials that
can absorb and release hydrogen, and have distinctive
heat and pressure characteristics. These attributes
make hydrides well suited for several applications
including solid-state hydrogen storage, hydrogen
compression, heating and cooling, and nickel-hydrogen
batteries, which applications are the focus of HERA's
development and commercialization program.
Along
with HERA's own important patent portfolio, HERA
is the exclusive licensee of several significant
inventions in the field of hydride materials from
Hydro-Québec's Research Institute and McGill
University .
HERA
is a venture-owned company based in Longueuil ,
Quebec , Canada near Montréal, with a wholly
owned subsidiary, HERA USA Inc. in Ringwood , New
Jersey , USA close to New York City . HERA's shareholders
include BOC, Hydro-Québec CapiTech and Shell
Hydrogen Projects.
For more information:
Visit: www.herahydrogen.com
or Contact:
Clemens van Zeyl , President and CEO
HERA Hydrogen Storage Systems Inc.
Phone: +1.450.651.1200 ext. 206
cvz@herahydrogen.com
Marc Hubert , Director of Business Development
HERA Hydrogen Storage Systems Inc.
Phone: +1.450.651.1200 ext. 208
mh@herahydrogen.com
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