Clean Tech Company Protean Electric Displays Vauxhall Vivaro Plug-in Through-the-Road Hybrid-Electric Vehicle at eCarTec 2010

Test Vehicle in Partnership with Millbrook Proving Ground Debuts for First Time at Major International E-Mobility Show

MUNICH, Germany, October 19, 2010 - Protean electric, a leading global supplier of in-wheel
electric motors, and Millbrook Proving Ground, one of Europe's leading
vehicle test and demonstration centers, partnered to produce a practical and
class-leading light commercial vehicle with plug-in hybrid and electric
vehicle operational capabilities. The Vauxhall Vivaro through-the-road hybrid
(TTRH) test vehicle is on display at eCarTec 2010, 19-21 October in Munich,
Germany, with Bundesverband eMobilität in Hall B5, Stand 614.

The Vivaro is debuting for the first time at an international
e-mobility show, following its UK debut at the 2010 Low Carbon Vehicle Show
in September at Millbrook. The technology can be applied to many light
delivery vehicles and can be offered as a conversion option for fleet
operators.

"This Vivaro through-the-road hybrid vehicle demonstrates a
practical, cost-effective and efficient way to retrofit a commercial vehicle
into a plug-in parallel hybrid by simply adding two in-wheel motors," said
Jon Meyer, chief operating officer of Protean Electric. "Fleet operators
throughout Europe should be lining up for a vehicle such as this that will
provide more than a 65 percent reduction in fuel usage and CO2 emissions in a
typical urban drive-cycle lower than 65g/km, while enabling electric-only
operation for in-city low-emission zones such as London."

Protean Electric outfitted the the Vivaro plug-in parallel
test vehicle with a through-the-road hybrid conversion kit of two Protean
Electric PD-18 motors attached to the rear axle of a standard front-wheel
drive commercial vehicle. The system provides a torque assist of up to 1,650
Nm peak and 1,000 Nm continuous at the rear wheels. The system can also
deliver regenerative braking on the rear wheels with no modifications needed
to the existing front brakes while retaining the vehicle's original engine
and drive system. This high level of regenerative braking allows
manufacturers to use a smaller battery size or extend the range with the same
battery size.

The through-the-road-hybrid retrofit allows the driver to
switch between multiple operating modes: two- or four-wheel drive operation,
IC engine-only drive, electric-only drive, or an electric torque assist. The
test Vivaro through-the-Road-hybrid is fitted with a 21kWh battery, giving
the vehicle more than 55 miles (90 km) of electrically-driven range and a
measured 114 mpg (2.4 litres/100km) over the New European Driving Cycle
(NEDC). The battery can be sized according to the range requirements of the
user between charges, making this conversion one of the most competitive
electric vehicles on the market.

The vehicle is currently going through a rigorous testing
regime jointly conducted by Millbrook and Protean Electric. Work is underway
on an initial Vivaro Plug-In Parallel Through-The-Road-Hybrid test fleet for
select fleet customers, scheduled early in 2011.

About Protean Electric

Protean Electric is a leading clean technology company that
designs, develops and manufactures the Protean Drive(TM), a fully integrated,
in-wheel motor, direct-drive solution. Each motor has a built-in inverter,
control electronics and software, delivering a practical way to electrify
small- to full-size vehicles with no compromise in performance. Protean
Electric is strategically positioned to play a major role in the hybrid and
electric vehicle market by offering a combination of packaging advantages,
new vehicle design opportunities, performance benefits and cost savings. With
offices in the UK, Germany and the United States, Protean Electric's core R&D
center is based in Farnham, England, with world-class engineering
capabilities to develop and support its in-wheel motor system, including
electric motor technology, power electronics, control software and vehicle
systems.

For more information, visit www.ProteanElectric.com.

    Contact: 

    Peter Tasch
    +49-69-405-702-516
    Peter.Tasch@fleishmaneurope.com

Contact: Peter Tasch, +49-69-405-702-516, Peter.Tasch at fleishmaneurope.com