Victoria, British Columbia, Canada – June 21, 2005 – Carmanah Technologies Corporation (TSX Venture: CMH) is pleased to announce that the Company has been contracted by PACE Suburban Bus of Chicago, Illinois, to supply its proprietary i-STOP(TM) solar-powered LED bus stop lighting systems.
Awarded through a public bid process, this contract is valued at up to $885,000. Installation is scheduled over the next five years with the first $194,000 in i-STOP(TM) systems to be delivered before the end of August. This order follows a successful field trial where PACE installed 19 units approximately 18 months ago and then surveyed passengers for feedback.
“Carmanah is pleased with the results of our i-STOP(TM) field trial with PACE,” states Carmanah’s CEO, Mr. Art Aylesworth. “This system rollout is based on the positive response from Chicago’s transit users. Our solar LED transit lighting systems are proving time and again that they are an ideal, cost-effective, environmentally friendly technology to enhance the transit experience for waiting passengers.”
PACE is the suburban bus division of Chicago’s Regional Transportation Authority and the 14th largest bus service in North America. PACE serves 130,000 daily riders throughout Chicago’s suburbs via 240 routes covering 3,500 square miles. The Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC) estimates the population of PACE’s service area to be approximately 5.2 million and expects it to grow to more than 6.2 million by 2020.
Traffic congestion in the Chicago region has increased by more than 100% in the past two decades. To offset this traffic congestion and the future demands of its growing population, PACE has created Vision 2020, a comprehensive transportation planning initiative for Northeastern Illinois. As part of this initiative, PACE has determined that service enhancements are required to address area population growth and new travel patterns. PACE will be deploying Carmanah’s i-STOP(TM) solar LED lighting systems as one of these service enhancements to make public transportation a more appealing alternative for commuters. Over the next 5 years, i-STOP(TM) systems will be available in many Chicago suburbs, including the Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties.
ABOUT THE i-STOP(TM)
The i-STOP(TM) is Carmanah’s unique solar-powered LED bus stop lighting system, which installs on all standard bus stop poles. The i-STOP(TM) is entirely modular, enabling transit authorities to choose one or more of the following solar-powered LED lighting features:
- Area lighting to provide a safer environment for waiting passengers. This lighting also makes passengers more visible to bus operators.
- Edge-lit illuminated schedules that provide low-profile, uniform illumination so that passengers can view bus route information at night.
- The i-SIGNAL(TM) bus signaling device. This patented feature enables passengers to activate a flashing beacon and notify oncoming buses when a stop is required.
- ADA Compliant, self-illuminating buttons. Braille label with easy-to-read tactile lettering.
Utilizing Carmanah’s award-winning, patented solar-powered LED technology, the i-STOP(TM) bus stop lighting system is completely self-contained, which means no trenching, wiring, traffic disruption or site remediation is required. For more information about the i-STOP(TM) and Carmanah’s other unique solar-powered LED lighting solutions for the transit industry, please visit http://www.transitlights.com.
ABOUT CARMANAH
Carmanah is an award-winning manufacturer of proprietary LED-based lighting and illumination products for the public transit, marine, aviation, roadway, and industrial worksite and illuminated signage markets. The Company has more than 100,000 solar-powered LED lighting installations and 50,000 LED illuminated sign installations in 110 countries. The shares of Carmanah Technologies Corporation are publicly traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “CMH” and on the Berlin and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges under the symbol “QCX”. For more information, please visit www.carmanah.com.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
Carmanah Technologies Corporation
“Praveen Varshney”
Praveen Varshney, Director
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Mark Komonoski, Director
Carmanah Technologies Corporation
Tel: (403) 861-8384
Toll-Free: 1-800-665-3749
Media:
Mr. David Davies
Tel: (250) 382-4332
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are described under the caption “Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements” and “Key Information – Risk Factors” and elsewhere in Carmanah’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and which are incorporated herein by reference. Carmanah does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.
The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.