Solvay S.A.: SOLVAY'S PRODUCTS USED FOR THE ECO-FRIENDLY ELECTRIC BLUECAR®'S POWER AND RANGE

Brussels, 5 December 2011, at 8:15 am (Brussels time)

 
Solvay's products as strategic component in electric car's battery pack

Solvay announced today it was selected by the Bolloré Group (http://www.bollore.com/) as a strategic supplier for the LMP^® batteries (http://www.bluecar.fr/en/pages-innovation/batterie-lmp.aspx) of Bluecar^® (http://www.bluecar.fr/en/pages-accueil/default.aspx), the small and elegant electric powered city car produced by Bolloré's affiliates Batscap (http://www.batscap.com/)/Bathium (http://www.bathium.com/).

Solvay brings a number of its products to the Lithium-Metal-Polymer^® (LMP) batteries (http://www.bluecar.fr/en/pages-innovation/batterie-lmp.aspx) as a result of a common R&D program.

The eco-friendly Bluecar^® (http://www.bluecar.fr/en/pages-accueil/default.aspx) is the electric car of choice for Autolib (http://www.autolib.eu/), the car-sharing system which will be officially inaugurated today in Paris, France.

"Solvay's participation in the development of the electric cars is part of our sustainable development strategy. We are developing with our business partners new Solef^® PVDF (http://www.solvaysites.com/sites/solvayplastics/EN/specialty_polymers/PartiallyFluorinatedPolymers/Pages/Solef_PVDF.aspx) grades to push the performance of the Li-ion batteries to new limits. Solef^® PVDF (http://www.solvaysites.com/sites/solvayplastics/EN/specialty_polymers/PartiallyFluorinatedPolymers/Pages/Solef_PVDF.aspx) is recognized by many car manufacturers as a key component for binders or separators in batteries. With the ongoing capacity increases in Tavaux, France, and Changshu, China, we'll be better equipped to ensure a steady PVDF supply to our Li-ion batteries customers," said Augusto Di Donfrancesco, General Manager of Solvay Specialty Polymers. "We are also developing in partnership with research institutes and business partners fluorinated lithium salts LiTFSI which are used as electrolyte in lithium-based batteries," added Dominique Rage, President of Rhodia Aroma Performance business unit of Solvay.

SOLVAY (http://www.solvay.com/) is an international chemical Group committed to sustainable development with a clear focus on innovation and operational excellence. Its recent acquisition of specialty chemicals company Rhodia (http://www.rhodia.com/) created a much larger player, which is realizing over 90% of its sales in markets where it is among the top 3 global leaders. Solvay offers a broad range of products that contribute to improving the quality of life and the performance of its customers in markets such as consumer goods, construction, automotive, energy, water and environment, and electronics. The Group is headquartered in Brussels, employs about 30,000 people in 55 countries and generated EUR 12 billion in sales (pro forma) in 2010. Solvay SA is listed on NYSE Euronext (SOLB.BE (http://www.euronext.com/trader/summarizedmarket/stocks-2593-EN-BE0003470755.html'selectedMep=3) - Bloomberg: SOLB.BB (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=SOLB%3ABB) - Reuters: SOLBt.BR (http://www.reuters.com/search?blob=SOLBt.BR)).

BATSCAP (http://www.batscap.com/) and BATHIUM (http://www.bathium.com/) are  world leaders  in the design of energy modules using lithium-metal-polymer.  BatScap and  BatHium  are  also specialized in the manufacturing  unique and innovative high-tech batteries to markets  as  electric vehicles.

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