Hitachi, Ltd.(TSE:6501) today announced that it has launched a service business, called 
HDRIVE, that uses its high-pressure inverters to create highly efficient motors and 
promote energy-saving at customers' facilities. This service is part of Hitachi's 
Medium-term Business plan called the "i.e. HITACHI Plan" to become a best solutions 
partner. 

	A departure from the conventional business models focused on selling products, 
HDRIVE will offer the energy-saving benefits of its hardware as a service. Hitachi will 
provide highly efficient motors, high-pressure inverters, monitoring systems, and other 
equipment to customers free of charge. Instead, under this new type of business service, 
customers will pay HDRIVE usage fees based on a fixed percentage of the energy 
savings generated by the equipment. The service offers substantial benefits to customers. 
They pay no initial costs and can make their factories more energy efficient, thus 
reducing running costs. In addition, maintenance and repair staff can be reduced through 
HDRIVE's remote monitoring and operations management. 

	The threat of global warming and growing awareness of the need to protect the 
environment are leading companies to seek compliance with ISO 14000 environmental 
standards and energy conservation laws as well as increasing the demand for measures 
to conserve energy.

	Approximately 60% of the energy consumed at factories in general industries is 
used for driving motors. Therefore, significant energy savings are possible by using 
inverters to control the number of revolutions in motors for fans, pumps, and other 
hydraulic equipment. However, recovering capital investment through energy savings 
requires a long time horizon. Many companies hesitant to make this investment have 
required services to reduce initial costs and realize more energy-efficient operations. 

	Responding to such needs, HDRIVE provides, free of charge, highly efficient 
motors, high-pressure inverters, and utility monitoring systems as well as other 
equipment to help improve the energy-efficiency of fans, blowers, pumps, and other 
hydraulic equipment at customers' manufacturing facilities. Under this service, Hitachi 
will receive a fixed payment based on the monthly energy savings generated by 
HDRIVE equipment. In contrast with conventional lease agreements, customers only 
pay for a portion of the energy savings they receive, according to utilization rates at 
their factories. They thus bear almost no cost for replacing equipment under this service. 

	Under the i.e. HITACHI Plan, Hitachi, Ltd., and the Hitachi Group will leverage its 
dedication to quality and productivity as a manufacturer to become a "best solutions 
partner" providing services and systems. 

Business Patents and Trademark Registration
In September 1999, Hitachi, Ltd., registered for a patent for the HDRIVE business 
model and registered the trademark in October 1999. 


Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's leading global 
electronics companies, with fiscal 1998 (ended March 31, 1999) consolidated sales of 
7,977 billion yen ($65.9 billion*).  The company manufactures and markets a wide 
range of products, including computers, semiconductors, consumer products and power 
and industrial equipment. For more information on Hitachi, Ltd., please visit Hitachi's 
Web site at http://www.hitachi.co.jp.
* At an exchange rate of 121 yen to the dollar.