September 30, 2009 (FinancialWire) — Exide Technologies (NASDAQ: XIDE) said its Onyx lithium ion batteries will serve as the power source for two autonomous undersea vehicles, commissioned by the Canadian federal government.

These research vehicles are designed for mapping the continental shelf positioned above the Arctic Ocean’s underwater mountains. The results of the full-mission testing, scheduled for launch later this month, are anticipated to help provide Canadian scientists and researchers with more detailed information about the geology of the ocean floor and the extent of the northern edge of Canada’s underwater bedrock.

The fully submersible AUVs are manufactured by Exide’s customer International Submarine Engineering Ltd. . Vancouver, British Columbia-based ISE is a world leader in the design and development of remotely operated vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicles, and robotic manipulator systems for land, subsea, and space training applications.

AUVs are underwater vehicles that can operate below the sea surface without any physical connection or communication with a control station. Pre-programmed to execute research missions, the vessels measure approximately six meters (or 20 feet) in length and weigh 1,800 kilograms (or 3,968 pounds). The battery-powered craft are ideal for underwater missions such as seabed surveying where the vehicle must cover long distances at relatively slow speeds - between 1 and 2.5 meters per second (2.2 miles per hour and 5.6 miles per hour). ISE has been involved in fully submersible AUV development since 1981.

Exide’s supply of its Onyx lithium ion batteries for this pair of AUVs is an extension of an agreement that first began between Delta, British Columbia, Canada-based Mountain Power Inc. and ISE in 2005. Exide acquired the principal assets of Mountain Power in November 2008, expanding the company’s capabilities in the alternative energy sector - more specifically, the design and commercialization of high performance, large capacity rechargeable lithium ion batteries for the telecommunications, utility, industrial, medical and military markets.

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