Altair Nanotechnologies Develops Revolutionary Battery for U.S. Navy

Goal: Reduce Dependency on Costly Jet Fuel for Back-Up Turbines and Reduce Carbon Emissions

Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. (NASDAQ: ALTI), a leading provider of advanced nanomaterials technology used in power and energy systems and other applications, today announced that it has completed the 500th full depth cycle of a unique lithium titanate battery developed for the U.S. Navy. Altair's $2.5 million contract is funded as part of a $3.5 million United States Navy program that includes independent product testing by the Navy. Additional funding of $5 million has been approved by Congress for FY 2008.

The "Mark 0, Characterization Module" allows the Navy to test and better understand the unique properties of Altair batteries. For example, capacity tests show that the battery has lost only about one percent of total capacity -- a remarkable result, and highlights one of the benefits (long life) of the technology. It is anticipated that early next year Altair will deliver a 1MW battery-based energy storage demonstrator.

"This is an important milestone in our battery development," said Terry M. Copeland, Altair's chief executive officer. "Proving out our unprecedented battery technology for a large-scale operation like a Navy destroyer paves the way for a safe, less costly, and environmentally sustainable substitute for turbines that use increasingly costly imported oil.

"We are proud to be working with the U.S. Navy and assisting in the launch of a new battery backup system," continued Copeland. "Given the number of ships to which Altair's technology could be applied, this electrical storage and rapid power delivery system could reduce the Navy's consumption of fuel by tens of millions of gallons each year. Once proven, our technology could be used by, not only the U.S. Navy, but commercial and foreign buyers," added Copeland.

With an Altair battery installed as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), a vessel could avoid the cost of keeping the backup generator online. If there is a problem with the primary generator, the battery would provide enough power to get a second unit up and online.

ABOUT ALTAIR NANOTECHNOLOGIES INC.

Altairnano is an innovator and supplier of advanced novel, ceramic nanomaterials. A seasoned management team complements Altair's leading edge scientists with substantial experience in commercializing innovative, disruptive technologies. The company has developed nanomaterials for the alternative energy, life sciences and performance materials markets based on its proprietary manufacturing process. This process also provides the foundation for its innovative AHP pigment process. For more information visit www.altairnano.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements as well as historical information. Forward-looking statements, which are included in accordance with the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, may involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the company's actual results and performance in future periods to be materially different from any future results or performance suggested by the forward-looking statements in this release. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the risks that development of the advanced lithium ion-based batteries described herein will not be completed for technical, political, strategic or other reasons; that any products developed will not perform as expected in future testing or real-world applications; and that even if full commercialization occurs, products sales may be limited and costs associated with production may exceed revenues. In addition, other risks are identified in the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, as filed with the SEC. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. The company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements found herein to reflect any changes in company expectations or results or any change in events.