California Energy Commission Awards R&D Grant to Enerpulse Technologies

Enerpulse to Lower Emissions With High-Energy NatGas Ignition System


ALBUQUERQUE, NM--(Marketwired - Mar 31, 2015) - Enerpulse Technologies (OTCQB: ENPT) announced today that its team, led by Gas Technology Institute (GTI), has been awarded a $ 749,868 grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) and $100,000 in matching funds from an interested strategic party to research and develop an advanced high-energy ignition system capable of overcoming the challenges of igniting natural gas fuels in internal combustion engines. Enerpulse Technologies will serve as the major subcontractor for the grant while Power Solutions International (PSI) and Ricardo plc will serve as minor subcontractors. The group will design and build a system that satisfies tighter emission standards, achieves lower fuel consumption, and improves engine performance.

California has often proved to be a national leader in advancing emissions standards and setting stricter environmental regulations that are eventually adopted by the EPA for nationwide policy. The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, also known as Assembly Bill 32, put California ahead of EPA standards by mandating a 25% reduction in emissions from 1990 levels by 2020. This bill left California in a strong position to comply with the EPA's Clean Power Plan proposal released eight years later, in June of 2014. In September of 2014, California Governor Jerry Brown reaffirmed California's commitment to strict emissions standards by announcing he seeks to lead the global fight against climate change.

California's Advanced Natural Gas Engine Ignition Systems Research program seeks to develop an ignition system that advances the performance and improves the fuel efficiency, exhaust emissions and economic viability of a natural gas engine that is suitable for product marketing to heavy-duty engine manufacturers. The CEC funded $2,999,868 in grants to four recipients in the program equating to roughly $750,000 per award. Each recipient will present their system(s) to the CEC in April of 2017 for consideration in state-wide adoption.

Enerpulse Technology will be acting as technology liaison for the group, with their Plasma Assisted Combustion (n-PAC®) spark plug serving as the core technology for the new high-energy ignition system. Enerpulse's n-PAC® spark plug releases energy stored in an internal patented capacitor in an intense nanosecond pulse that saturates a portion of the gaseous air-fuel mixture with plasma. The plasma saturated air-fuel mixture ignites instantaneously and burns at an accelerated rate, delivering significantly more efficient and robust combustion.

"The biggest difficulty with natural gas as a transportation fuel is its difficulty to ignite and its lower energy content (as compared to liquid fuels such as gasoline or diesel). Enerpulse's n-PAC technology addresses both problems by using pulsed power to convert a portion of the air-fuel mixture into a highly reactive plasma-state that ignites instantly and burns more completely," said Lou Camilli, president and chief technology officer for Enerpulse Technologies. "We have already shown improvements to fuel economy by 6%, engine stability by 15%, and lowered emissions by 13% on mobile natural gas engine A-B tests."

Power Solutions International, Inc. (PSI) provides integrated turn-key engine and power solutions to leading global original equipment manufacturers in the industrial, off- and on-road markets. PSI will serve as minor contractor for the project, providing $50,000 of in-kind support including the use of a prototype 8.8 liter engine and their rapid prototype engine control unit (ECU). Jeff Ehlers, VP of On-highway technology, will also serve on the technical advisory committee for the project. According to Ehlers, "We believe this project would contribute to CEC's goal of accelerating research and development of advanced natural gas engines. By demonstrating the technologies on our prototype 8.8 liter NatGas engine, this project affords us the opportunity to validate the potential benefits in fuel economy and emissions that can be realized from Advanced Plasma Ignition Systems. We have reviewed Enerpulse's technology and believe it is capable of delivering these benefits."

Ricardo plc is a leading global multi-industry engineering provider of technology, product innovation and strategic consulting. As a minor subcontractor, Ricardo plc will provide expertise and facilities for dynamometer testing and catalytic converter system optimization.

For more information on Enerpulse Technologies, phone 888-800-6700 or visit www.enerpulse.com.

About ENERPULSE (OTCQB: ENPT)
Enerpulse Technologies, Inc. is a publicly traded company headquartered in Albuquerque, N.M. Founded in 2004; the company develops and manufactures ultra-high performance, low emissions ignition products through the application of pulse power technology. For more information, visit www.enerpulse.com.

Safe Harbor / Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding the private placement and the intended use of proceeds from the private placement. Information provided by the Company such as online or printed documents, publications or information available via its website may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors, which, if they do not materialize or prove correct, could cause its results to differ materially from historical results, or those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including statements containing the words "planned," "expects," "believes," "strategy," "opportunity," "anticipates," and similar words. These statements may include, among others, plans, strategies, and objectives of management for future operations; any statements regarding proposed new products, services, or developments; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; statements of belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including market conditions, risks associated with the cash requirements of our business and other risks detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and represent our views only as of the date they are made and should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Contact Information:

For further information, contact:
Heather Tausch
Director of Marketing and Communications
505-999-2005