Update Report On Hybrid Norfolk Southern Switcher Locomotive To Be Presented At 7th Annual ASME Rail Conference

NEW CASTLE, Pa., Oct. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Axion Power International, Inc., (OTC QB: AXPW), the developer of advanced lead-carbon PbC® batteries and energy storage systems, announced today that Gibson Barbee, P.E. of Norfolk Southern and Philippe Westreich, PhD of Axion Power International will make a joint presentation at the 7th Annual ASME Rail Transportation Division Fall Technical Conference updating the progress of the NS 999 Electric Switcher – a hybrid locomotive that is powered by strings of PbC batteries supplied by Axion Power to Norfolk Southern.  The conference will take place October 15-17 in Altoona, PA.

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In the presentation, Barbee and Westreich, Lab and Test Director for Axion Power, will discuss the close collaboration between Norfolk Southern and Axion Power and their shared excitement about the potential that battery-powered locomotives offer over traditional diesel fuels.  Dr. Westreich has been managing the joint "yard switcher" program for Axion and is also managing the "over the road" locomotive project that Norfolk Southern and Axion have undertaken.

Axion Power Chairman and CEO Tom Granville commented, "We were pleased to read the positive comments that Norfolk Southern made in their July 2013 published Sustainability Report with respect to the NS 999 and with respect to their continuing collaboration with 'industry partner Axion Power International'. (That section of their sustainability report can be found here: http://bit.ly/153097W.)  We believe that PbC batteries have the potential to become widespread power sources for America's rail lines because of their ability to operate in partial state of charge applications, recharge quickly from regenerative braking opportunities when they are available, and particularly because of our batteries' inherent voltage equalization, especially in large string applications. We are very pleased and proud to be working with Norfolk Southern on this important alternative energy project, which will significantly reduce greenhouse gases and lead to a cleaner and greener environment."

About Axion Power International, Inc.
Axion has developed and patented a next generation energy storage device that won the prestigious Frost & Sullivan Technology Award for North America in the field of lead-acid batteries. According to Frost & Sullivan, Axion's new PbC® batteries have "the potential to revitalize the lead-acid battery industry by breathing new life into an established technology that has not been well suited to the requirements of important new applications like hybrid electric vehicles and renewable power."

Axion Power International, Inc. is the industry leader in the field of lead carbon energy storage technologies. Axion believes its new PbC battery technology is the only class of advanced battery that can be assembled on existing lead-acid battery production lines throughout the world utilizing Axion's proprietary activated carbon electrodes. Axion's future goal, after filling their plant's lead-carbon battery production capacity, is to become the leading supplier of carbon electrode assemblies for the global lead-acid battery industry.

For more information, visit www.axionpower.com

Contacts
Axion Power International Inc.
Thomas Granville, CEO
(724) 654 9300

Allen & Caron, Inc.
Rudy Barrio (Investors)
r.barrio@allencaron.com
(212) 691-8087

Len Hall (Media)
len@allencaron.com 
(949) 474-4300

SOURCE Axion Power International, Inc.