Plug Power Wins National Award for Research and Development

7 May 1998
Plug Power Wins National Award for Research and Development

    LATHAM, N.Y., May 7 -- Plug Power has announced that it was
recently honored with the National Energy Resources Organization's (NERO) 1998
Research and Development Award.  The R&D Award is presented to the company or
individual that has made a significant contribution to the area of energy
research and development.  Plug Power was chosen based on the firm's
successful conversion of gasoline to electricity with its fuel cell in October
1997.
    Plug Power President and CEO Gary Mittleman accepted the award at NERO's
annual banquet on May 5 at the Willard Hotel in Washington DC.  In his
remarks, Mittleman spoke of the potential for this technology breakthrough.
"The concept of the electric vehicle using batteries just doesn't cut it; not
only are they expensive, but there is no infrastructure in place to make
recharging easy," he said.  "When Plug Power proved that fuel cells can run on
gasoline, it created a new horizon for the electric vehicle... we're now
looking at a car that can fuel up at any gas station, doesn't pollute the
atmosphere, and gets double the current gas mileage," Mittleman added.
    The National Energy Resources Organization was formed in 1975 to serve
individuals and groups actively engaged in fostering our national energy
activities.  Its primary purposes are to: facilitate the
exchange/dissemination of energy-related information; honor contributions to
the field, encourage participation among government, industry and education;
and educate the public about energy advances.
    Plug Power, L.L.C. ( http://www.plugpower.com ) is a joint venture between
Edison Development Corporation, a DTE Energy company , and
Mechanical Technology Inc. , an early developer of fuel cell
technologies.  Located in Latham, N.Y., Plug Power intends to manufacture fuel
cells for electric power generation in residential and automotive
applications.

SOURCE  Plug Power, L.L.C.