EXHIBIT 10.71
                   JOINT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
                                
                             BETWEEN
                                
                       ELECTROSOURCE, INC.
                                
                               AND
                                
                   BLACK & DECKER (U.S.) INC.
                                
                                
                        JOINT DEVELOPMENT
                                
ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS
          1.1  "BATTERY"                                     1
          1.2  "BATTERY TECHNOLOGY                           1
          1.3  "EPRI TECHNOLOGY"                             1
          1.4  "MOWER"                                       1
          1.5  "OUTDOOR PRODUCTS"                            1
          1.6  "POWER TOOL"                                  2
          1.7  "PROJECT"                                     2
ARTICLE II - JOINT DEVELOPMENT                               2
          2.1  Scope of PROJECT                              2
          2.2  Prototypes                                    2
          2.3  Production Volumes                            2
ARTICLE III - EXCLUSIVITY; CONFIDENTIALITY AND
               OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY                   2
          3.1  Duration                                      2
          3.2  Exclusivity Extinguished                      3
          3.3  Intellectual Property                         3
ARTICLE IV - TERM, TERMINATION AND SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS
          4.1  Term                                          3
          4.2  Termination                                   3
          4.3  Survival of Rights                            3
ARTICLE V - PUBLICITY                                        3
ARTICLE VI - NOTICES                                         4
ARTICLE VII - REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES                 4
ARTICLE VIII - GENERAL                                       4
          8.1  Vicarious Performance                         4
          8.2  Assignment                                    4
          8.3  Applicable Law                                5
          8.4  Force Majeure                                 5
          8.5  No Obligation to Third Parties                5
          8.6  Supplemental Documentation                    5
          8.7  Negation of Implications                      5
          8.8  Parties Are Independent Contractors           5
          8.9. Sublicenses                                   6
          8.10 Integration, Modification, No Waiver          6
APPENDICES
          Appendix A - Specifications
          Appendix B - Test Plan
          Appendix C - Intellectual Property

                   JOINT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
                                
     Effective ________________ ("AGREEMENT DATE") ELECTROSOURCE,
INC.,  having  an office at 3800-B Drossett Drive, Austin,  Texas
78744-1131  ("ELSI") and BLACK & DECKER (U.S.)  INC.,  having  an
office at 701 E. Joppa Road, Towson, Maryland 21286 ("B&D") agree
as follows:
                     ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS

     Terms in this Agreement (other than the names of parites and
article  headings)  which  are set forth  entirely  in  uppercase
letters  shall have the meanings attributed to such  terms  below
and  in  Appendix  "C."  The following definitions  are  for  the
purposes of this Agreement, only:

     1.1  "BATTERY"  means an ELSI rechargeable lead-acid battery
for use on a MOWER or other POWER TOOL.

     1.2  "BATTERY TECHNOLOGY" means all technology of any kind,
and  all  intellectual  property  rights  therein,  covering   or
embodied  in  BATTERIES  or  the  manufacture,  use  or  sale  of
BATTERIES.

     1.3  "EPRI TECHNOLOGY" means all technology of any kind that
may  have been owned or controlled by the Electric Power Research
Institute  ("EPRI")  and  its successors,  and  all  intellectual
property rights therein, covering or embodied in BATTERIES or the
manufacture, use or sale of BATTERIES.

     1.4   "MOWER"  means  a  B&D cordless electric  walk-behind
lawnmower having a power rating in the range of from 400 watts to
5000 watts and designed to be powered by an on-board rechargeable
battery, together with the entire battery charger system and  all
mechanical  and  electrical interfaces with  the  battery,  which
battery,  charger system and interfaces may exist  apart,  or  be
removable, from the mower deck.

     1.5   "OUTDOOR  PRODUCTS" means products for use  outdoors,
including without limitation walk-behind mowers, string trimmers,
hedge  trimmers, lights, shredders, blowers and stand-alone power
units  comprising at least a battery, electric motor  and  output
shaft, having a power rating of 7HP or less, for connection to  a
working implement.

     1.6   "POWER  TOOLS"  means any OUTDOOR PRODUCT  (excluding
riding  mowers) and any other powered tool or appliance  and  any
accessory  therefor (i) that is used for cutting,  including  but
not   limited  to  construction  material,  food  or  vegetation;
drilling;  hammering;  planing, measuring;  soldering;  grinding;
sanding;  sawing;  spraying; fastening; polishing;  screwdriving;
nutdriving;  compressing; vacuum cleaning; grass  cutting;  hedge
trimming; pruning; mowing; blowing; cooking, hearing, gluing; can
opening;  knife  sharpening; ironing; food preparation  including
but not limited to juicing, chopping and mixing; or lighting; and
(ii)  that  can  be,  in  use, portable, bench  top,  countertop,
stationary (ground or floor-supported) or wheeled.

     1.7  "PROJECT" means the development project between B&D and
ELSI  to  jointly develop commercially acceptable  BATTERIES  and
POWER TOOLS, beginning with MOWERS.

                 ARTICLE II - JOINT DEVELOPMENT
                                
     2.1   Scope of PROJECT.  Initially, B&D and ELSI desire  to
develop  commercially acceptable BATTERIES and MOWERS, where  the
BATTERIES  meet the Specifications attached as Appendix  "A"  and
made  a  part hereof, and pass the Test Plan attached as Appendix
"B"  and made a part hereof, as such Specifications and Test Plan
may  be  modified from time to time.  The parties will  negotiate
their  respective  roles and obligations and timetables.   It  is
also   the   intent   of   the  parties  to  explore   additional
opportunities to apply ELSI technology to other B&D POWER  TOOLS,
including additional types of OUTDOOR PRODUCTS.

     2.2  Prototypes.  It is the intent of the parties for B&D to
purchase  prototype BATTERIES from ELSI meeting the  requirements
of  Appendices "A" and "B", on mutually agreeable terms inclduing
without limitation quantity, price, qualify and delivery.   Aside
from  such  prototype BATTERIES, each party  will  bear  its  own
expenses inclurred during the PROJECT.

     2.3   Production  Volumes.  In the event  that  it  can  be
demonstrated   to   B&D's  sole  satisfaction   that   ELSI   can
successfully manufacture production volumes of BATTERIES  meeting
B&D's  cost, delivery and quality requirements, it is the  intent
of  the parties that B&D and ELSI will negotiate an agreement for
the  purchase, under mutually acceptable terms including  without
limitation price, delivery and quality, of production volumes  of
BATTERIES from ELSI for use on MOWERS.

                   ARTICLE III - EXCLUSIVITY;
         CONFIDENTIALITY AND OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

     3.1   Duration.   Beginning with  the  AGREEMENT  DATE  and
continuing  for the duration of this Agreement and any  extension
hereof,  and  any  agreement to purchase  production  volumes  of
BATTERIES  pursuant to Section 2.3, ELSI will not sell  BATTERIES
or  license BATTERY TECHNOLOGY to third parties in the  field  of
POWER TOOLS.

     3.2  Exclusivity Extinguished.  In the event this Agreement
expires or is terminated, and no purchase agreement of production
volumes  made  pursuant  to  Section 2.3  above,  exists,  ELSI's
obligations  under  Section  3.1  above  shall  be  extinguished,
subject  to  B&D's patent, trademark, copyright and  trade  dress
rights, under which no license is granted herein.

     3.3   Intellectucal  Property.  Confidentiality  and  other
intellectual  property topics are addressed in  Appendix  "C"  to
this Agreement, attached hereto and made a part hereof.

                 ARTICLE IV - TERM, TERMINATION
                     AND SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS
                                
     4.1   Term - The term of this Agreement shall be for  three
(3)  years  from  the  AGREEMENT DATE  unless  sooner  terminated
pursuant to Paragraph 4.2, below.

     4.2  Termination - Either party may terminate this Agreement
at  any  time  for  any reason by giving one  (1)  month's  prior
written notice to the other party.

     4.3   Survival  of  Rights  -  The  following  rights  and
obligations shall survive the termination or expiration  of  this
Agreement for any reason:

           4.31  B&D's  obligation  to  pay  ELSI  for  prototype
BATTERIES, if any, purchased from ELSI pursuant to Section 2.2 of
this Agreement.

           4.32  The  parties' respective rights and  obligations
regarding  INVENTIONS  and  MUTUAL  CONFIDENTIALLY  pursuant   to
Appendix  "C"  to  this  Agreement, and exclusivity  pursuant  to
Article III of this Agreement.

                      ARTICLE V - PUBLICITY
                                
      The  parties  may independently, or if mutually  agreeable,
jointly,  issue  press  releases and  other  publicity  upon  the
complete execution of this Joint Development Agreement concerning
this  Agreement's content, except that ELSI may not disclose  any
information  regarding  quantities  or  pricing  of   MOWERS   or
BATTERIES  except as required by law or regulation.   Each  party
warrants  that  all  such publicity it issues will  be  accurate.
Except for permissible publicity under this Article V, nothing in
this  Agreement shall be construed as conferring upon a  party  a
right  to use in advertising, other publicity, or otherwise,  any
trademark or tradename of the other party's.

                      ARTICLE VI - NOTICES
                                
     6.1  The parties shall serve notice to one another to their
respective addresses set forth above, as follows:

     President, for ELSI, and

     Product Manager for MOWERS, for B&D, with a copy to

     Patent Department (Outdoor Products) - TW199

     6.2   All notices shall be sent via FAX with a confirmation
copy  by  overnight courier or U.S. overnight Express Mail.   The
notices shall be effective as of the date of transmission.   Each
party may change its address for notice by written notice to  the
other party.

          ARTICLE VII - REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                                
     7.1  Each of the parties represents and warrants that as of
the  AGREEMENT DATE it is solvent; that no petitions  for  relief
under  the  U.S. Bakruptcy Code or any similar Federal  or  State
statute  has been filed against it; that no application  for  the
appointment  of  a  receiver  for or  the  making  of  a  general
assignment for the benefit of creditors by it has been made;  and
that it is contemplating no such application or assignment.

     7.2  Each of the parties represents and warrants that it has
not  entered into and will not enter into any agreement with  any
third party in conflict with the provisions of this Agreement.

     7.3   ELSI  represents and warrants that it has  the  full,
entire  and  exclusive  right  and  power  to  enter  into   this
Agreement,  to  grant  licenses  under  all  BATTERY  TECHNOLOGY,
including  without limitation EPRI TECHNOLOGY, and to  make,  use
and sell BATTERIES.

                     ARTICLE VIII - GENERAL
                                
     8.1  Vicarious Performance.  The parties may perform any of
their  duties  and  obligations herein through  their  respective
parents,  wholly-owned subsidiaries and wholly-owned subsidiaries
and  affiliates  of  either.  Performance by  a  party's  parent,
wholly-owned subsidiary or wholly-owned subsidiary or  parent  of
either  shall  be  deemed to be performance by such  party.   Any
rights  granted in this Agreement to the parties shall extend  to
their  respective parents, wholly-owned subsidiaries and indirect
wholly-owned  subsidiaries  or either,  and  its  successors  and
assigns.

     8.2   Assignment.  B&D may freely assign this Agreement  to
any  of  its  parents, wholly-owned subsidiaries and subsidiaries
and  affiliates of either.  This Agreement may be freely assigned
by  a party to any entity which acquires all or a portion of  the
business of such party pertaining to the subject matter  of  this
Agreement.   This Agreement may otherwise not be  assigned  by  a
party without the prior written consent of the other party, which
consent shall not unreasonably be withheld.

     8.3   Applicable Law.  This Agreement shall  be  construed,
interpreted and applied in accordance with the applicable laws of
the State of Maryland.

     8.4  Force Majeure.  No party hereto shall be considered to
be  in  breach of its obligations hereunder if it shall  fail  to
fulfill  the same for reasons arising wholly or principally  from
acts  of  God, war, riot, civil commotion, tempest, flood,  fire,
strike, lockout or any other circumstances beyond the control  of
the  party or sublicensee which would, but for the provisions  of
this Paragraph 8.4, be in default of its obligation.

     8.5   No  Obligation to Third Parties.  The  execution  and
delivery  of  this Agreement shall not be deemed  to  confer  any
rights  upon,  nor  obligate any of the parties  hereto,  to  any
person  or  entity  other  than each other,  unless  specifically
described in this Agreement.

     8.6   Supplemental  Documentation.  Each  party  agrees  to
execute and deliver any and all further agreements, documents  or
instruments  necessary  to  effectuate  this  Agreement  and  the
transactions contemplated hereby or reasonably requested  by  the
other party to perfect or evidence such party's rights hereunder.

     8.7   Negation  of Implications.  Nothing herein  shall  be
construed as:

      (a)   Creating any obligation of either of the  parties  to
introduce or maintain any produce on the market;

      (b)   Subject  to the mutual confidentiality provisions  of
this  Agreement, preventing a party from making, using or selling
any product except to the extent that such product is covered  by
the  valid trademarks, copyrights or issued patents of the  other
party; or

     (c)  Except for publicity under Article V of this Agreement,
conferring a right to use in advertising, publicity, or otherwise
any  trademark or tradename of the party from which a license  is
received under this Agreement

     8.8   Parties Are Independent Contractors.  Each  party  is
acting  as  an  independent contractor and not as an  agent  for,
partner of, or joint venture with, the other party.

     8.9   Sublicenses.   No non-exclusive licensee  established
under  any  provision of this Agreement may grant sublicenses  to
any  other  entity, except to its customers as implied licensees,
to  its  partents  or wholly-owned subsidiaries  or  wholly-owned
direct  or  indirect subsidiaries of either, and  to  any  entity
which acquires all or a portion of its business pertaining to the
subject   matter   of   this  Agreement.    Exclusive   licensees
established under this Agreement may freely grant sublicenses.

     8.10  Integration, Modification, No Waiver.  This  document
contains  the entire and only agreement between the  parties  and
supersedes all preexisting agreements between them respecting its
subject  matter.  No modification or amendment of this  Agreement
may  be  made except by a written agreement signed by all of  the
parties  to  this Agreement then existing.  Any of the  terms  or
provisions  this Agreement may be waived, but only in writing  by
the  party  which  such waiver is sought  to  be  enforced.   The
failure to any party hereto to insist upon strict performance  of
any  of  the  provisions of this Agreement will not  consitute  a
waiver of any right of such party hereunder.

The  parties  hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby,  have
respectively  executed  this Agreement in  duplicate  as  of  the
AGREEMENT DATE.

BLACK & DECKER (U.S.) INC.         ELECTROSOURCE INCORPORATED

BY:       /S/                      BY:     /S/

NAME:     Charles E. Fenton        NAME:     Michael G. Semmens

TITLE:    Vice President and       TITLE:    CEO & President
          Assistant Secretary
DATE:     March 8, 1996            DATE:      March 11, 1996