NEWS RELEASE

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HARDING ENERGY INTRODUCES NEW COMPACT CHARGER
FOR QUEST^® PLATINUM RECHARGEABLE NiMH BATTERIES

LAS VEGAS, NV — March 1, 2003 — Users of Harding Energy’s Quest^® nickel metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries will now have a convenient 120-minute compact charger, with retractable plug blades, ideal for travel.  The new charger will fit easily into a small camera case or pocket. The new Quest^® Compact Charger is being introduced today at the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) trade show held in Las Vegas, NV.

The Quest^® Compact Charger will charge up to four AA or AAA Quest^® NiMH batteries in approximately two hours, faster than previous models offered by Harding.

“The Quest^® Compact Charger is ideal for people on the go that need high-capacity batteries that can be quickly recharged,” said Steve Morgan, director of marketing and sales, Harding Energy, Inc. “It allows those with high-demand, high-drain portable products such as digital cameras, CD players, and personal digital assistants (PDA), to quickly recharge and reuse their batteries when they need them, giving the products more power, more consistently and more economically.”

Quest^® NiMH batteries are fully rechargeable, memory-free batteries that last twice as long between charges as other types of rechargeable batteries.

“The benefits are obvious,” says Morgan. “For example, by delivering more power over a longer period of time, digital camera users can take up to twice as many pictures on a single charge of Quest^® batteries, when compared with a single charge of nickel cadmium (NiCAD), and up to ten times as many pictures when compared with alkaline batteries.”

In addition, Quest^® batteries are environmentally friendly, containing no toxic metals such as cadmium, mercury, lead or lithium.

Quest Compact Charger Features

The Quest Compact Charger has microprocessor controlled charging circuits and can charge both AA and AAA size batteries at the same time.  It is capable of charging two or four AA and/or AAA cells.  The charger signals with a LED display to inform the user when charging begins and when the battery is fully charged.  When the batteries are fully charged, the unit automatically switches to a maintenance charge, allowing batteries to be left in the charger indefinitely without causing any damage.

The Quest^® Compact Charger Kit suggested retail price is $29.95 with four Platinum² batteries, or $27.95 with four standard Platinum batteries.  Additional Platinum² batteries are available for a suggested retail price of $14.99 for a package of four.  A four pack of Quest^® Platinum batteries is available at a suggested retail price of $12.99.

Product Images

To download digital images of the Quest^® Compact Charger Kit, please visit the Product Image section of our website.

Distribution

The primary distributor for Quest^® batteries in the U.S. and Canada is Minolta Corporation, Ramsey, New Jersey.  For information on how to become a Quest battery dealer, contact Steve Morgan, Harding Energy, smorgan@hardingenergy.com,

231-798-7033.

Harding Energy, Inc.

Harding Energy, Inc., headquartered in Norton Shores, Michigan, is a world wide manufacturer of nickel metal hydride (NiMH) technology, from cell assembly to custom battery pack design and construction.  Harding Energy’s batteries are created from American invented, patented and proven technology. 

Harding Energy is a true single source supplier, offering a full range of batteries, chargers, and packaging.  The company controls all aspects of cell manufacturing, battery assembly and packaging, resulting in substantial cost savings and faster turnaround time.  The Harding Service Program offers specialized cell design, customized chemistry, charging methods, just-in-time delivery and much more.

Please visit the Harding Energy web site at www.hardingenergy.com.

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