Vancouver, BC, Canada – (October 21, 2004) – Carmanah Technologies Corporation (TSX VE: CMH; Berlin and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges: QCX), is unveiling i-STOPTM, the world’s first solar-powered, LED (light emitting diode) illuminated bus stop, to the multibillion dollar worldwide transit market at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Exposition in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
i-STOPTM is a completely new concept in transit customer service and safety. This solar-powered, illuminated transit stop system incorporates features such as (1) a patented flashing beacon to notify an oncoming bus that a stop is requested, (2) security down lighting so waiting passengers don’t have to stand in darkness, and (3) an illuminated schedule case enabling nighttime timetable readability.
i-STOPTM uses solar power as an alternative energy source to operate autonomously for up to 5 years, at which point only the battery pack is replaced (and the old pack is recycled). Carmanah’s proprietary edge-lit LED illumination is shock-proof, lasts for up to 100,000 hours of operation, and draws only one-tenth of the power of incandescent lighting. The entire system can be installed in minutes with no digging, wiring or external electrical connections; hence there are no traffic delays or disruption to the local power source or street aesthetics.
Carmanah has over 45,000 units of its lighting products installed by the US and Canadian Coast Guards as well as military, commercial and private organizations around the world. “We have developed a international reputation for solar-powered LED lighting products that operate flawlessly under some of the world’s harshest conditions,” says Mr. Aylesworth. “We are now offering this same proprietary, reliable technology to the transit industry with the i-STOPTM.”
Carmanah has already received orders from numerous transit agencies in US cities including Palm Springs, CA; Medford, OR; Sacramento, CA; Denton, TX; Long Beach, CA; San Bernardino, CA and Arlington, VA, as well as London, England and our home base of Victoria, British Columbia. Hundreds of prototypes are planned for trial testing in the U.S. and Europe this year, and Carmanah plans to open new sales offices to accommodate the demand in these regions.
There are approximately one million bus stops in North America alone. The 2300 bus transit agencies in the U.S. spend one billion dollars annually on bus facilities and more than 40 of these agencies have already expressed interest in Carmanah’s i-STOPTM system. “The U.S. government has committed $7.7 billion to public transit for 2002 in a push to modernize facilities and increase ridership,” states Mr. Aylesworth.
Carmanah’s new transit products can be viewed at booth #7249 at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Exposition September 23-25, 2002 in Las Vegas, NV, USA.
The i-STOPTM is protected by US patents 6,013,985 and Canadian patent 2,241,044. Further patents are pending.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
Carmanah Technologies Corporation
Praveen Varshney, Director
For further information, please contact.
Media Contact:
Mr. David Davies
Harbourwerks Communications
Telephone: (250) 382-4332
E-mail: ddavies@harbourwerks.com
Corporate Contact:
Mr. Praveen Varshney, Director
Telephone: (604) 629-0264
Toll-Free: 1-866-629-0264
Fax: (604) 682-4768
E-mail: investors@carmanah.com
Investor Relations Contact:
Vanguard Shareholder Solutions
Telephone: (604) 608-0824
Toll-Free: 1-800-567-6223
Fax: (604) 601-2004
E-mail: ir@vanguardsolutions.ca