July 7, 2006 – Altair Nanotechnologies Inc., a supplier of ceramic nanomaterials and high-power battery systems technology, announced it has received a $750,000 initial order for its fast charge, high powered batteries from Phoenix Motorcars, a Calif. company that intends to make full function, freeway ready electric automobiles.

The battery packs will be engineered and manufactured at Altairnano’s Anderson, Indiana facility and will utilize Altairnano’s proprietary nano-lithium ion battery technology. Phoenix Motor Cars is using the engineering services of Boshart Engineering, Inc., based in Ontario, California, to develop the battery integration, validation, certification and regulatory testing.

In early 2005, Altairnano announced that it had developed innovative battery electrode material that in independent testing exhibited very fast charge characteristics. In September 2005, the company announced it had taken additional steps to commercialization by acquiring a leading-edge battery design and implementation group which it co-located in Reno, Nevada and Anderson, Indiana. On February 1st, 2006 Altairnano announced that it had started the manufacture of battery cells in its Anderson facility, and on May 23rd, Altairnano announced that these battery cells had passed key safety tests conducted by Altairnano.

The next step, before engaging with an electric vehicle supplier, was to partner with an expert in electric drive-trains and a company who had an established track record in vehicle roadworthy compliance. On May 8th, 2006 Altairnano announced it had signed an agreement with Boshart Engineering. Together Boshart and Altairnano proposed an integrated drive-train and battery system to Phoenix Motorcars.