A development followers of AXPW have been anticipating for some time was announced today -- sale of PbC batteries to Norfolk Southern for use in a battery powered 'switcher' locomotive.

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Axion Power Receives Initial Norfolk Southern Order for PbC® Batteries

NEW CASTLE, Pa., April 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Axion Power International Inc (OTC Bulletin Board: AXPW), the developer of advanced lead­-carbon PbC® batteries and energy storage systems, today announced that it has received an order from Norfolk Southern Corp (NS) for PbC batteries for use in a battery-powered locomotive. Axion Power said this first $400,000 purchase order is part of a $475,000 total purchase order, that will be used in the commissioning of Norfolk Southern's NS-999. The total purchase order will be shipped and deployed in the next 90 – 120 days. To date, this is the largest single PbC battery order that Axion has received. No further details were disclosed.

Axion Power Chairman & CEO Thomas Granville commented, "We have been working with Norfolk Southern for two and a half years, and we are very pleased that this first hybrid 'switcher' yard locomotive, to be run completely on PbC batteries, will soon be in service. We have been moving on a parallel development path with respect to supplying batteries for the first NS 'over the road' locomotive. This larger, more powerful, unit will require approximately twice the number of batteries as those to be shipped for the yard 'switcher' locomotive. High-performance PbC batteries are ideally suited for hybrid locomotive applications due to their high charge acceptance, fast charge and discharge capabilities (important in regenerative braking), and their inherent ability to equalize voltage when utilized in large string configurations."

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