Leclanché: First 100-Percent Battery Powered, Air Supported Vessel, Launched in Riga, Latvia Montag, 23. Mai 2016 - 09:30

23.05.2016 / 08:30

Editor's Note:  Photos of the BB Green and its battery storage system are
available upon request.

For Immediate Release

First 100-Percent Battery Powered, Air Supported Vessel,
Launched in Riga, Latvia

BB Green is the world's fastest electric commuter vessel;
Leclanché provided the turnkey battery energy storage system for EU-project

YVERDON LES BAINS, Switzerland and DALLAS, May 23, 2016 - The world's
fastest Air Supported Vessel (ASV), fully powered by a Leclanché lithium-
ion battery energy storage system (BESS), has been launched at Latitude
Yachts in Riga, Latvia.

The "BB Green" is the result of a five-year long EU-project. The vessel
holds up to 70 passengers plus bikes, operates at a speed of 30 knots
(56km/h) and is the first of its kind; it will initially be used for
demonstration purposes across Europe.

The ASV technology reduces water resistance by having the ship operate on
an air cushion. A battery powered fan in the bow injects pressurised air
into a cavity under the ship and supports some 80 percent of the vessel's
displacement. The resistance is reduced by 40 percent at high speed, which
makes it possible for the 25-ton ship to reach a speed of 30 knots
propelled by 2 x 280 kW electric motors.

BB Green includes a 200 kWh LTO energy storage system enabling it to
operate at high speed for over 30 minutes with a 14 nautical mile (26 km)
range. At each stop, it benefits from ultra-fast charging for 15-20
minutes. This makes BB Green the "the world's fastest electric commuter
vessel" - perfect for commuting on inland waterways from outer suburbs to
the city centre.

Mr. Antti Väyrynen, vice president of Leclanché highlights the importance
of this project, "Full electrification of passenger ferries will reduce
local emissions and provide silent and comfortable transportation on
waterways. As the leading manufacturer of lithium-ion battery systems in
Europe, Leclanché is proud to have contributed to this very innovative
project as the integrated battery system supplier."

BB Green is the result of a European project which involved 8 main
partners:
  - SES Europe / Effect Ships International, Norway (Hull technology and
    design)

  - Latitude Yachts, Latvia (Construction)

  - Echandia Marine, Sweden (System integration)

  - Leclanché, Switzerland (Energy storage systems)

  - SSPA, Sweden (Tank testing and documentation)

  - Lloyd's Register (Safety and classification)

  - Diab, Sweden (Composite material and engineering)

  - Aqualiner, the Netherlands (End user partner)

BB Green will make its first "road show" from Riga to Stockholm, through
the canal to Gothenburg and then on to Oslo. The ship is owned by SES
Europe together with Green City Ferries, who will operate the ship on its
maiden voyage.

Currently, Leclanché is supplying a 4.3 MWh turnkey energy storage system
to the world's largest electric ferry which will be launched in Denmark in
2017. These contributions further highlight the Company's strategy to
enable the electrification of ferries.

About Echandia Marine Sweden
Echandia Marine is a fully owned subsidiary of Green City Ferries, which in
turn is privately owned company in Sweden. Echandia is an independent
system integrator focussing on ferries and other vessels in cities where
pollution is an issue. Echandia provides electric drivelines and systems
together with our Norwegian partner Callenberg Technology who is a global
operator. Echandia also has a close collaboration with Leclanché.
Furthermore, Echandia also provides charging stations.
/

About Leclanché
Leclanché is a fully vertically integrated battery energy storage solution
provider. It delivers a wide range of turnkey energy storage solutions for
homes, small offices, large industries, electricity grids, as well as
hybridization for mass transport systems such as bus fleets and ferries.
Established in 1909, Leclanché has been a reliable partner for battery
energy storage solutions for over 100 years. Founded in the tradition of
Georges Leclanché, the inventor of the dry cell battery, Leclanché today
has a rich portfolio of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) that include
bespoke battery systems from industry leading lithium-ion solutions. Since
2006, the company moved from a traditional battery producer to become one
of the first developers, manufacturers and provided of lithium-ion cells in
Europe. Leclanché's BESS are optimized for various applications, in
particular for the integration of renewable energy, diesel fuel reduction,
electricity grid-connected ancillary services, peak power shaving for heavy
industries, as well as for heavy duty transportation in buses, trams,
trains or maritime vessels. Leclanché products are characterized by a very
high cycle stability (both for cells with titanate and graphite anodes) and
industry-leading long service life resulting into reduced total cost of
ownership. With its patented separator technology, which is a core element
of lithium-ion batteries, Leclanché is able to make cells with very good
safety characteristics, under a highly automated production process.
Leclanché operates a fully automated plant for the production of large
format lithium-ion cells at an annual maximum capacity of up to one million
cells and is capable of running multiple chemistries through production for
different cell characteristics. In addition, Leclanché offers a number of
specialized battery systems through its Portable Business Unit, such as
customer-specific energy storage systems for defence and medical
applications. Leclanché also distributes primary and secondary batteries
and accessories of other producers.
Leclanché is listed on the Swiss stock exchange. SIX Swiss Exchange: ticker
symbol LECN | ISIN CH 011 030 311 9

Disclaimer
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to
Leclanché's business, which can be identified by terminology such as
"strategic", "proposes", "to introduce", "will", "planned", "expected",
"commitment", "expects", "set", "preparing", "plans", "estimates", "aims",
"would", "potential", "awaiting", "estimated", "proposal", or similar
expressions, or by expressed or implied discussions regarding the ramp up
of Leclanché's production capacity, potential applications for existing
products, or regarding potential future revenues from any such products, or
potential future sales or earnings of Leclanché or any of its business
units.
You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-
looking statements reflect the current views of Leclanché regarding future
events, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
statements. There can be no guarantee that Leclanché's products will
achieve any particular revenue levels. Nor can there be any guarantee that
Leclanché, or any of the business units, will achieve any particular
financial results.

# # #

Media contacts:
U.S. and Canada:
Rick Anderson / Henry Feintuch / Bennie Sham
Tel.: +1 (718) 986-1596 / +1 (212) 808-4901 / +1-(212) 808-4904
E-Mail: leclanche@feintuchpr.com

Worldwide, except U.S. and Canada:
Jacques Boppe / Florent Gaillard
Tel.: +41 (0) 24 424 65 00
E-Mail: communication@leclanche.com



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Issuer: Leclanché SA
Key word(s): Energy

23.05.2016

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