the pioneering work on nimh batteries - essentially based on sintered ti2ni+tini+x alloys for the negative electrode and niooh-electrodes for the positives - was performed at the battelle geneva research center starting after its invention in 1967: the development work was sponsored over nearly 2 decades by daimler-benz comp./stuttgart and by volkswagen ag. within the framework of deutsche automobilgesellschaft. the batteries showed high energy and power densities up to 50 wh/kg, 1000 w/kg and a reasonable cycle life of 500 cycles. - patent applications were filed in european countries (priority: switzerland), usa and japan and the patents transferred to daimler-benz comp./stuttgart. - elektrode zur speicherung und aktivierung von wasserstoff", k.d. beccu, battelle-geneva, ch priority application no. 6333/67-bb3/ch/2 - (2.05.1967), patent: de 2317505 c2 (18.10.73). negative electrode of ti-ni alloy hydride phases, us patent us 3,669,745 (06/13,1972), inventor: k.d. beccu, ph.d, battelle-geneva r&d center. see also nimh batteries