Fuel cell-powered mobile plasma lighting system featuring LUXIM's Light Emitting Plasma™ technology deployed at Academy Awards^®

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Mar. 23, 2010—At the Academy Awards® ceremony held earlier this month, a new mobile lighting system incorporating Light Emitting Plasma™ (LEP) from LUXIM and a clean hydrogen fuel cell was deployed at the celebrity gathering, infusing the festivities with a brighter, cleaner sparkle. The novel mobile unit was recently developed by a team of collaborators as a more efficient alternative to traditional technologies powered by diesel fuel generators. In addition to LUXIM, the team consisted of Sandia National Laboratories, The Boeing Company, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Altergy Systems, Multiquip Inc., and others.

The use of the new system marks a major departure for this kind of high-intensity entertainment lighting application. Up to now, mobile lighting units were powered by diesel fuel generators that produce carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and soot, making them less than ideal for the environment. Before this technology arrived, mobile lighting units typically consumed 4.4 kilowatts. The LEP system consumes only about 2.3 kilowatts for the same light output. This reduced power requirement saves energy and increases the system duration (operational time between refills).

Said Geoff Browne, LUXIM's Vice President of Sales, "It's a thrill to see our technology deployed at such a high-profile venue. The fuel cell mobile system featuring LEP is an especially good fit for the entertainment industry. It meets film production sound levels, maintains zero exhaust emissions and can be used for indoor and outdoor film shoots. But beyond the novelty of deployment at a highly visible Hollywood entertainment event, LEP is gaining steady adoption in multiple other important commercial venues like street and area, and general lighting. It's simply the most powerful, efficient and cleanest light source for new-generation high-intensity applications."

LUXIM is the world leader in Light Emitting Plasma technology, having shipped more than 50,000 products under its LiFi™ brand. These products are used in applications as varied as projection display, medical instruments and entertainment lighting. In each application the technology has brought dramatic improvements in efficiency, life and color quality. LUXIM is now bringing the benefits of Light Emitting Plasma technology to the area lighting market with the goal of playing a meaningful role in reducing the planet's energy consumption and abating climate change.

LIFI and LEP are trademarks of LUXIM. Other names used in this press release are trademarks of the parties indicated.