Challenging the Triathlon to test the strength of long-lasting rechargeable EVOLTA batteries

OSAKA, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Panasonic Corporation (NYSE:PC) (TOKYO:6752) ("Panasonic") is taking on one of the toughest challenges for its EVOLTA Robot on October 23, 2011 (HAST), titled EVOLTA World Challenge IV to prove just how durable its EVOLTA rechargeable batteries are. As the fourth challenge, triads of EVOLTA robots have been developed to complete the approximately 230 km Ironman® Triathlon Course on Hawaii Island - notorious as among the most grueling of all Ironman® courses. Three robots, the swim, bike and run robots will tackle each event powered just by three rechargeable EVOLTA AA batteries.

News Facts

• EVOLTA World Challenge IV will take place from 12:00pm on October 23, 2011 in Hawaii, USA at the Ironman® Triathlon Course
• Equipped with three different bodies, EVOLTA will run on three EVOLTA AA rechargeable batteries to challenge the triathlon (swimming, biking and running)
• The goal is to reach the finish line within one week (or 168 hrs) by covering a total of approximately 230 kilometers running non-stop for 24 hours excluding the time needed to recharge batteries
• EVOLTA has previously conquered the Grand Canyon on a pair of Panasonic AA dry batteries in 2008. In the following year the robot drove around the Le Mans for 24 hours and earned a Guinness World Records for "the longest distance covered by a battery-operated remote-controlled model car." Last year, he captivated the crowd along the historic "53 Stations of the Tokaido" in Japan where he completed a 500 km walk from Tokyo to Kyoto on 12 AA EVOLTA rechargeable batteries.
• The live feed will be broadcasted at certain parts of the day at EVOLTA Official WEBSITE.
• EVOLTA will also be tweeting from his Twitter account 24 hours in Japanese and English at @EVOLTA_Robot

EVOLTA Robot Creator Tomotaka Takahashi

Internationally known as one of Japan's foremost robot creator, Mr. Tomotaka Takahashi is the founder of ROBO-GARAGE and a Research Associate Professor at the University of Tokyo.

Quotes of Mr. Tomotaka Takahashi, EVOLTA Robot Creator

• "I feel this year's challenge sets a bar that is higher than all previous challenges. The only batteries we can use are three EVOLTA rechargeables. And we have to make the robot go in three different movements for swimming, biking and running over a total of 230 km. Plus, we have to reach the goal within the allotted time of one week, so the robots will be on the move all day and all night, whenever their batteries are not recharging."
• "Given the intensity of this challenge, we will be continuing our work on the robots right down to the wire. The fact that we can put our faith in the power and endurance of EVOLTA rechargeable batteries and devote ourselves to developing the robots is a huge help to us. If EVOLTA rechargeable batteries weren't capable of giving a steady and ample supply of power, I probably would have had to abandon this challenge."

EVOLTA Rechargeable Batteries

Serial No.: HHR-3MVS (Available in Japanese market October 1, 2011)

Product Highlight: Industry top level batteries with re-usability rate of 1600 times^*1 (compared to conventional model^*2 of 1200 times)

*1 As of October 1, 2011

*2 2010 model in Japan.

Find more information

• EVOLTA Official WEBSITE
• EVOLTA Robot's Official Twitter
• EVOLTA Official YouTube Channel
• Previous 53 Stations of Tokaido Challenge on Panasonic News Portal
• EVOLTA World Challenge in 2008 & 2009 Official Site
• Panasonic News Portal

About Panasonic

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of electronic products for a wide range of consumer, business, and industrial needs. Based in Osaka, Japan, the company recorded consolidated net sales of 8.69 trillion yen (US$105 billion) for the year ended March 31, 2011. The company's shares are listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and New York (NYSE:PC) stock exchanges. For more information on the company and the Panasonic brand, visit the company's website at http://panasonic.net/.

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Contacts

Media Contacts:
Global Public Relations Office
Panasonic Corporation
Tel: +81-3-6403-3040 Fax: +81-3-3436-6766
Panasonic News Bureau
Tel: +81-3-3542-6205 Fax: +81-3-3542-9018

EVOLTA Robot (Run) (Photo: Business Wire)

EVOLTA Robot (Bike) (Photo: Business Wire)

EVOLTA Robot (Swim) (Photo: Business Wire)

Mr. Tomotaka Takahashi, EVOLTA Robot Creator. (Photo: Business Wire)