AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Valence Technology (NASDAQ: VLNC), a leading global energy system manufacturer, today announced it received new purchase orders from Enova Systems, Inc (NYSE AMEX: ENA) (AIM: ENV) (AIM: ENVS), a leading supplier of hybrid and electric powered propulsion systems, to develop a new fleet of 16 hybrid-electric school buses intended for service in school districts across Wisconsin and Ohio. Enova Systems is the electric drivetrain provider for Navistar International Corporation’s (NYSE: NAV) hybrid-electric school bus, the Navistar IC™ CE Series yellow bus. Enova has been a Valence customer since 2006.

Navistar, with a 61% share of the school bus market in North America, continues to utilize Enova’s hybrid-electric drivetrains and Valence Technology’s proven U-Charge® dynamic energy systems that feature Valence Command & Control interactive logic in their hybrid-electric school buses. To date, there are dozens of Navistar IC™ hybrid school buses powered by Valence Technology in service at various school districts across 11 states.

“School districts across the U.S. trust Enova Systems and Navistar to transport their students safely, efficiently and with a reduced impact on the environment,” said RJ Adleman, Valence Technology’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “And as evidenced by the new orders, Enova and Navistar continue to place confidence in Valence Technology to deliver proven, safe and reliable battery systems that enable significantly-improved fuel economy and a decrease in greenhouse gases.”

Introduced in 2006, the Navistar IC™ CE series yellow bus revolutionized the school transportation industry by offering the first commercially available hybrid-electric school bus in the United States. Navistar’s CE Series school bus utilizes an 80 kW Enova Systems hybrid drive train and a 38 kWh Valence Technology lithium phosphate dynamic energy system. The innovative hybrid-electric system improves fuel economy by up to 65% and reduces greenhouse gases by up to 39%.

“In Valence Technology we found an advanced battery solution that delivers the power, energy, safety and reliability that Navistar requires,” said John Mullins, Enova Systems’ Chief Operating Officer. “The latest order with Valence Technology will help more school districts reduce their carbon footprints and transport children safer and quieter.”

About Valence Technology, Inc.

Valence Technology is a global leader in the development of safe, long-life lithium iron magnesium phosphate energy storage solutions and provides the enabling technology behind some of the world’s most innovative and environmentally friendly applications. Founded in 1989, Valence today offers a proven technology and manufacturing infrastructure that delivers ISO-certified products and processes that are protected by an extensive global patent portfolio. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Valence Technology is strategically aligned by five business segments: Motive, Marine, Stationary, Industrial and Military. In addition to the corporate headquarters in Texas, Valence Technology has its Research & Development Center in Nevada, its Europe/Asia Pacific Sales office in Northern Ireland and global fulfillment centers in North America and Europe. Valence Technology is traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the ticker symbol VLNC. For more information, visit www.valence.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may vary substantially from these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including the quantity of batteries purchased or whether any additional batteries are purchased. The risk factors that could affect actual results are discussed in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2009, and the reader is directed to these statements for a further discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.