Medis Technologies Ltd. (MDTL) ("Medis") announced today that it has been issued a new patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (U.S. Patent #6,758,871 "Liquid Fuel Compositions for Electrochemical Fuel Cells") for its proprietary fuel. This is the third U.S. patent issued with respect to the fuel used in Medis' proprietary fuel cell technology and this patent relates to the composition of that fuel. Additional patents that cover other aspects of the fuel and its use in Medis' fuel cell are still pending. 

"The unique characteristics of this invention of a new fuel for small fuel cells by the scientific team led by Gennadi Finkelshtain, General Manager of Medis' wholly owned fuel cell subsidiary, More Energy Ltd., can now be better understood and appreciated," said Robert K. Lifton, Chairman and CEO of Medis Technologies. "Not only does this fuel offer greater power and flexibility of use in a fuel cell, but most important, Medis' proprietary fuel is not flammable and not toxic. This contrasts with methanol, the traditional fuel used in small fuel cells being developed for portable devices." 

As reflected in this patent, the basic components of Medis fuels are borohydride - alkaline solutions combined with alcohols. These compounds are characterized by very high levels of electrochemical activity which results in high levels of power density and energy capacity at a broad range of temperatures, even including room temperatures. These are important conditions for working with portable power sources and offer better performance than methanol, which has its most efficient operating regime only starting from 70 degrees Celsius ("C.") or 158 degrees Fahrenheit ("F.") and higher. 

According to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) ratings, methanol flammability is 11 degrees C. or 51.8 degrees F. (category 3 -high flammability level) and for that reason faces severe limitations for use on an airplane and raises serious questions about its use as a consumer product. On the other hand, borohydride flammability is 250 degrees C. or 482 degrees F. (category 1- low flammability level). In addition, according to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) data (hazard identification ratings), methanol toxicity is determined to be level/category 3 (high toxicity) while borohydride toxicity is determined to be 2 (average). 

Medis Technologies is involved in the development of highly advanced proprietary technology products primarily related to sources of clean energy for the 21st Century. Medis' primary focus is on direct liquid fuel cell technology. Its business strategy is to license or sell its technologies to, or enter into joint ventures with, large international corporations or sell its products to end users through retail outlets and service providers. In addition to its fuel cell technology, Medis' product pipeline, in varying stages of development, includes inherently conductive polymers, the toroidal engine and compressor and stirling cycle system. Medis has also developed the CellScan with many potential applications relating to disease diagnostics and chemo sensitivity. 

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the successful completion of product development, the success of product tests, commercialization risks, availability of financing and results of financing efforts. Further information regarding these and other risks is described from time to time in the Company's filings with the SEC. 

This press release is available on Medis' web site at www.medistechnologies.com.