C&D News

C&D Technologies Partners with Firefly Energy as Manufacturer of Microcell Foam Batteries for Trucking and Related Deep-discharge Application Markets

BLUE BELL, Pa., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- C&D Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: CHP), a leading North American producer and marketer of batteries, battery systems and integrated standby power systems, announced today that it has signed a manufacturing contract with Firefly Energy, Inc., the Peoria, Illinois-based battery technology company that has developed a portfolio of innovative lead-acid battery technologies.

The contract calls for the establishment of a manufacturing partnership between the two companies to produce Firefly-designed battery products for the trucking and off highway equipment markets. Firefly's microcell technology provides the trucking industry and fleets with a highly effective fuel-saving alternative for powering their trucks' hotel loads and HVAC systems. Capable of almost double the run time and life of traditional lead-acid batteries, the technology enables significant economic payback as well as compliance with recent anti-idling legislation.

The first focus for this partnership will be for the Firefly "Oasis" battery. Firefly will provide microcell foam technology components, and C&D will manufacture the battery in their Milwaukee Wisconsin facility.

Dr. Jeffery Graves, President and CEO of C&D Technologies said, "This partnership brings together innovative design and materials technologies with advanced manufacturing techniques to produce a customer solution that has outstanding performance and is environmentally friendly, as it reduces the emissions from engine idling or diesel auxiliary power units. C&D is committed to energy storage products, processes and enterprises that preserve our environment. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with Firefly Energy."

Firefly CEO Ed Williams called the new C&D relationship a "critical addition to our manufacturing and commercialization strategies which expands the availability of our award winning battery technology."

"Firefly is first and foremost an innovator, creating enabling energy technologies," Williams said. "We will continue to focus on product technologies, design, development and testing that compresses product development schedules while enhancing product quality and performance. We're delighted to be associated with a company of C&D's caliber, given the stringent requirements which C&D has long met in producing batteries of the highest quality for demanding telecom and data protection customers."

About Firefly Energy

Firefly Energy Inc. ("Firefly") is a Peoria, Illinois-based battery technology company developing a portfolio of lead-acid battery technologies and products to enhance performance within major portions of the $30 billion worldwide battery marketplace. The company's first applied technology is a microcell foam-based battery technology, which can deliver a unique combination of high performance, low weight and low cost, all within a battery that unleashes the full power potential of lead acid chemistry. Firefly's battery products and their patented microcell technology deliver to battery markets a level of performance achieved with advanced battery chemistries (Nickel Metal Hydride and Lithium) but at one-fifth the cost. Firefly's microcell battery products can be manufactured as well as recycled within the existing lead acid battery industry's vast infrastructure. Firefly is backed by multi-billion-dollar product companies such as Caterpillar (www.cat.com), BAE Systems (www.baesystems.com), and Husqvarna (www.husqvarna.com). Additional investors include Chicago-area Venture Capital firm KB Partners (www.kbpartners.com), Quercus Trust, Khosla Ventures (www.khoslaventures.com), Infield Capital and the Illinois Finance Authority.

About C&D Technologies:

C&D Technologies, Inc. provides solutions and services for the switchgear and control (utility), telecommunications, and uninterruptible power supply (UPS), as well as emerging markets such as solar power. C&D Technology's designs, manufactures, sells and services fully integrated reserve power systems for regulating and monitoring power flow and providing backup power in the event of primary power loss until the primary source can be restored. C&D Technologies' unique ability to offer complete systems, designed and produced to high technical standards, sets it apart from its competition. C&D Technologies is headquartered in Blue Bell, PA. For more information about C&D Technologies, visit http://www.cdtechno.com.

Forward-looking Statements:

This press release may contain forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), which are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances. Words and expressions reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Factors that appear with the forward- looking statements, or in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings (including without limitation the company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2008, or the quarterly and current reports filed on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K thereafter), could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward- looking statements made herein.

SOURCE C&D Technologies, Inc.
10/27/2008 CONTACT: Ian Harvie of C&D Technologies, Inc., +1-215-619-7835, iharvie@cdtechno.com; Dan Green of Firefly Energy, +1-847-279-0022 ext. 239, Dan.Green@TechImage.com

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