For Release: July 30, 2002

CONTACTS:

Scott Fosgard, GM Advanced Technology
Phone: (586) 947-3295; (810) 899-2582 (cell)
Email: scott.fosgard@gm.com

Johan Willems, Product Communications, GM Europe
Phone: 41 1 825 25 19; 41 79 605 6260 (cell)
Email: johan.willems@ch.gm.com

Andy Abele, QUANTUM Advanced Technology Center
Phone: (949) 399-4527
Email: aabele@qtww.com

NEW YORK - General Motors Corp. and QUANTUM Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. (Nasdaq: QTWW) has received certification from a top German safety institute for a 700 bar (10,000 psi) hydrogen storage system which could ultimately allow fuel cell vehicles to achieve a driving range of 300 miles.

The system is the first high-pressure hydrogen storage tank of 700 bar technology capacity to be certified by Germany's Technical Inspection Association (TÜV = Technischer Überwachungs-Verein), an organization that approves new technology in vehicles. Until now, hydrogen storage tanks with a maximum capacity of 350 bar (5,000 psi) had met the requirements for TÜV certification. For certification, TÜV validates high-pressure tanks in accordance with common industry standards in Europe and North America.
At 700 bar (10,000 psi), significantly more hydrogen can be stored in the same space occupied previously by a 350 bar tank, extending the range of fuel cell vehicles between fill ups. Scientists at the GM Fuel Cell Activities center in Mainz-Kastel, Germany will be completing tests with the new storage system in the coming weeks.

The system has also been validated according to the European Integrated Hydrogen Project (EIHP). EIHP is at the forefront of developing global regulatory standards for hydrogen storage testing and certification. One milestone to successfully pass EIHP requirements was the development of QUANTUM's TriShieldTM tank design.

"These collaborative efforts with QUANTUM represent another step towards understanding how fuel cell vehicles will be capable of a range equal to or greater than today's vehicles powered by internal combustion engines," said Frank Colvin, GM's Vice President for Fuel Cell Commercialization.

The fuel cell technology, showcased in GM's HydroGen3 fuel cell vehicle, brings GM another step closer to the commercialization of hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles. A key challenge to the introduction of fuel cells is to produce an efficient, lightweight onboard storage system with enough capacity for making lengthy drives possible.

"We are proud to be supporting GM in the development of future technologies that incorporate alternative forms of propulsion," said Alan Niedzwiecki, president and COO of QUANTUM.

The TriShieldTM hydrogen storage tank's design features a one-piece permeation-resistant seamless liner, a high-performance carbon composite over-wrap for strength, and a proprietary, impact-resistant outer shell.

The storage tank is a product developed from GM's partnership with QUANTUM, launched a year ago to collaborate on improving the range of GM's fuel cell vehicles through the development of hydrogen storage, hydrogen handling and electronic control technologies for fuel cell applications. On July 23, 2002, IMPCO Technologies Inc. spun off QUANTUM, and GM then acquired a 19.9 percent equity stake in the new company.

Fuel cells are the key technology in GM's drive toward sustainable mobility and its reinvention of the automobile. GM intends to be the first automaker to sell 1 million fuel cell vehicles, and expects to begin seeing them on the road by 2010. GM has 500 people working on its fuel cell activities in Honeoye Falls, N.Y., Warren, Mich., and Mainz-Kastel, Germany.

GM accelerated its fuel cell research and development program in the late 1990s. Development milestones include the HydroGen1 fuel cell vehicle, which set 15 world speed and distance records for fuel cell vehicles, a stationary fuel cell for distributed power generation, and numerous improvements in fuel cell stack and fuel processor development.

GM also continues development of the first vehicle designed from the ground up around fuel cell and by-wire technologies, an idea first introduced at the 2002 North American International Auto Show in the concept car called AUTOnomy.

"Our definition of commercialization is high volume, affordable and profitable fuel cell vehicles," said Colvin. "Having the fuel-cell technology alone doesn't make you a commercial supplier. However, the technology, along with the market demand and the infrastructure, is another step leading to high volume production of commercial fuel cell vehicles."

General Motors (NYSE: GM), the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, designs, builds and markets cars and trucks worldwide. It has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. GM employs about 355,000 people around the world. More information on General Motors advanced technology vehicles and its environmental performance can be found at www.gmability.com.

QUANTUM (Nasdaq: QTWW) designs, manufactures and supplies integrated fuel systems for fuel cell applications and alternative fueled vehicles. QUANTUM's products include advanced fuel storage, fuel metering and electronic controls. More information about QUANTUM can be found on its website at www.qtww.com.