FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 31, 2003

Maxwell Technologies Reports Second Quarter Financial Results

Increasing Ultracapacitor Sales Contribute to Improved Revenue Mix
Conference Call at 11 a.m. (EDT) Tomorrow, August 1, 2003 - Details Below

SAN DIEGO, CA — Maxwell Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: MXWL) today reported a net loss of $3.4 million, or $0.25 per share, on revenue of $10.7 million for its second quarter ended June 30, 2003. That compares with a net loss $9.4 million, or $0.83 per share, on revenue of $13.2 million, for the second quarter ended June 30, 2002. Cash and short- term investments totaled $7.5 million as of June 30, 2003.

Rich Balanson, Maxwell's president and chief executive officer, said that, in line with the company's strategy of focusing on high-reliability, high- margin product lines and eliminating non-core and low-margin products, it has divested its tester business. He said that charges for excess and obsolete tester inventory and product returns are expected to total approximately $1 million, including a charge of $444,000 recorded in the second quarter. Balanson said that the company also recorded a second quarter charge of $313,000 for stock options granted to Kenneth Potashner, Maxwell's former chairman, who withdrew as a nominee to continue serving on the company's board of directors at Maxwell's annual stockholders meeting in May. Excluding those charges, which totaled $757,000, or $0.05 per share, the second quarter net loss was $2.7 million.

Revenue for Maxwell's core high reliability products, which include ultracapacitors, high voltage capacitors, power systems and radiation-shielded microelectronics, totaled $7.9 million for the quarter. Balanson noted that, exclusive of charges, gross margins for that base business increased by 5 percent sequentially from the first quarter to the second quarter, driven in part by increasing sales of ultracapacitors.

"Our BOOSTCAP® ultracapacitor revenue base is expanding rapidly as consumer and industrial electronics design-in wins advance to commercial production, and the volume of shipments for sampling and prototyping activity has increased ten-fold over the past three years," Balanson said. "Although demand for some of our other products continues to be soft, we are gaining market share and doing a good job of controlling operating expenses, so the company is well positioned for a significant improvement in operating results as the economy recovers."

Cash used by operating activities in the second quarter was approximately $2.8 million, compared with $8.3 million in the same period in 2002.

"The balance sheet is solid, and we expect to net approximately $5 million to augment our cash reserves from the sale of a vacant facility in San Diego, which we expect to complete within the next few months," Balanson said.

The company will file its Form 10-Q, containing complete financial data and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations for the second quarter ended June 30, 2003, by August 15. That document will be available at the company's web site, or in hard copy by calling the company's Investor Relations Department, at (858) 503-5165.

Management will conduct a conference call and simultaneous webcast to discuss second quarter financial results and the outlook for the balance of 2003, and answer analysts' questions at 11 a.m. (eastern) tomorrow, August 1, 2003. The call may be accessed by dialing toll-free, (888) 584-2147 from the U.S. and Canada, or (706) 679-7677 for international callers. The webcast and subsequent replay may be accessed at the company's web site.

Maxwell sells reliability. We develop, manufacture and market electronic components and systems that perform reliably for the life of the applications into which they are integrated. Our BOOSTCAP® ultracapacitors and ultracapacitor-based energy storage systems uniquely address applications in transportation and consumer and industrial electronics. Our high-voltage grading and coupling capacitors are used in electric utility infrastructure and other applications involving transport, distribution and measurement of high voltage electrical energy. Our radiation-mitigated microelectronic products include power modules, memory modules and single board computers that primarily address applications in aerospace.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These include development and acceptance of products based on new technologies, demand for original equipment manufacturers' products reaching anticipated levels, general economic conditions in the markets served by the company's products, cost-effective manufacturing of new products, the impact of competitive products and pricing and risks and uncertainties involved in foreign operations. These and other risks are detailed from time-to-time in the Company's SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002. Actual results may differ materially from those projected. These forward-looking statements represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this news release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

The following data is available. Please click on the information you would like to see and it will open in a new window.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

SEGMENT STATEMENTS OF OPERATION

Contact:
Michael Sund
Maxwell Technologies
(858) 503-5171

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