Vancouver, BC, Canada – (June 8, 2004) – Carmanah Technologies Corporation (TSX VE: CMH; Berlin and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges: QCX), is pleased to announce that Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) – serving the municipalities of Lancaster and Palmdale north of Los Angeles, CA – has purchased Carmanah’s i-STOP™ solar-powered LED bus stop lighting. The order, worth approximately $120,000, is one of Carmanah’s largest i-STOP™ orders to date. Carmanah’s i-STOP™ product is currently installed with more than 65 transit authorities throughout North America and abroad.
“The i-STOP™ is now selling based on its reputation of award-winning performance and its proven track record in major cities including Atlanta, Chicago and Seattle,” said Carmanah’s CEO Art Aylesworth. “Our i-STOP™ product is now part of the Transit industry and a proven tool for progressive Transit Agencies looking to improve the safety and comfort of passengers and operators in an environmentally friendly and cost efficient way.”
Two major industry awards have recently recognized Carmanah’s solar-powered illuminated bus stops. First, in March 2004, the Carmanah solar LED bus stop – created specifically for the city of London – was named runner up in the category “Innovations: Contribution to Sustainability” at the Lighting Design Awards 2004 in the U.K. Second, the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) has selected Carmanah’s i-STOP™ for the CUTA Corporate Award for Innovation, to be presented at CUTA’s Annual Conference 2004 in St. John’s, Newfoundland, on June 15, 2004.
The i-STOP™ consists of an illuminated bus schedule, a security light and a flashing LED (Iight-emitting diode) beacon that notifies bus drivers up to one mile (1.6 kilometres) in advance if there is someone waiting at the bus stop. The i-STOP™ is compact, completely integrated and all features are powered by Carmanah’s patented solar engine. The i-STOP™ is quick and relatively inexpensive to install, requiring no pre-existing electrical infrastructure or hook-up to the electrical grid, providing a cost-effective lighting solution for improved transit safety, service and convenience.
Recent i-STOP™ customers include:
- University of New Hampshire;
- Re-orders by Fresno, CA, and Riverside, CA, following successful trials;
- Pierce County, WA, following their order last year of 100 units;
- Vancouver Regional Transportation Authority (TransLink), BC.
“We are extremely pleased to see the ongoing success of our field trials rolling over into new and larger orders,” said Aylesworth. “There are more than 2,200 transit agencies in the U.S. representing a substantial market opportunity for Carmanah.” In April 2004, the U.S. government passed its TEA 21 reauthorization bill providing $51.5 billion in guaranteed transit funding over six years.
For more information about Carmanah’s lighting solutions for public transit, visit www.transitlights.com.
About Carmanah
Carmanah is an award winning alternative energy manufacturer specializing in patented solar-powered LED lighting solutions for the transit, marine, aviation, roadway, railway and industrial worksite markets. The Company currently has more than 90,000 units installed in 110 countries. The shares of Carmanah Technologies Corporation (parent company) 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.
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, 2003, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and which are incorporated herein by reference. These risks and uncertainties are also described under the caption “Risk Factors” in Carmanah’s Annual Information Form dated December 31, 2003, as filed with the British Columbia Securities 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.