"We are excited to be able to offer this addition to our family of test products in response to customer requests for a larger test load," said Peter Nor, Vice President Marketing and Corporate Development of Astris Energi. "The new TL6 will integrate seamlessly into test facilities using Astris' TESTMASTER(tm) Control and Data Acquisition Suite as well as offering an inexpensive bench top solution for customers with smaller test labs."

The model TL5 test load with 100 W rating has been sold to customers around the world to test individual cells and small fuel cell stacks. The new TL6 is an air cooled passive electronic test load with built-in microprocessor intelligence, can dissipate up to 1 kW of power, can handle voltages up to 200 V and currents up to 200 A, and is suitable for testing larger stacks and batteries. As a member of the Astris TL family, the instrument can operate autonomously under manual control or can be used in larger installations as a series of test loads connected to a single data acquisition and control computer, running the Astris TESTMASTER(tm) software suite. The "resistance free" diagnostic method pioneered by Astris allows reading of the internal electrochemical potentials, offering further insight into the state of health of the fuel cell or battery on test. TL6 has inputs for additional temperature sensors and an expansion port, allowing for collection of additional test data when testing more complex devices. Together with the updated TESTMASTER(tm) program TL6 goes another step forward in expanded performance and functionality.

About Astris Energi Inc.

Astris is committed to becoming a leading provider of affordable stationary and motive power fuel cells and components. Additional information is also available at the company's website at www.astris.ca.