27th Jul 2006 07:01
Enova Systems, Inc.27 July 2006 Enova works with IC Corporation to Receive Major Hybrid School Bus Award TORRANCE, CA, July 27, 2006 - Enova Systems, (OTCBB: ENOV and AIM: ENV andENVS), a leading developer and manufacturer of electric, hybrid and fuel celldigital power management systems, confirmed today it will be supplying ICCorporation, a division of International Truck and Engine, the Hybrid Drivesystems for a nationwide Hybrid School Bus initiative. The Project award,coordinated by Advanced Energy, a Raleigh, NC based nonprofit corporation, wasannounced Tuesday July 25th by IC Corporation at the 13th Annual SchoolTransportation News Expo in Reno, Nevada. As stated in the following article,Enova will supply their Post transmission Hybrid Drive System for nineteen (19)Plug-In Hybrid Electric School Buses across eleven (11) states: 11 States are First in the Nation to Receive Hybrid School Buses as IC Corporation Awarded Bid by Advanced Energy Consortium IC Corporation Works with Enova Systems to Supply First Hybrid School Buses That Can Attain Up To 40 Percent Increase in Fuel Efficiency - Eleven states will be getting a higher grade for investing in energy- efficiency this school year. New York, California, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Arkansas, Iowa and Washington will be the first states in the nation to receive hybrid school buses. Through its Plug-In Hybrid Electric School Bus Project, Advanced Energy, a Raleigh, N.C.-based nonprofit corporation, initiated a buyer's consortium of school districts, state energy agencies and student transportation providers. After issuing nationwide Request for Proposals (RFPs) for hybrid school buses in June 2006, Advanced Energy announced today at the 13th Annual School Transportation News Expo that IC Corporation, the nation's largest school bus manufacturer, won the bid and will provide up to 19 hybrid school buses to those 11 states. "This project provides operational benefits to school districts, while also providing the reduced emissions desired by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a valuable return on investment to school boards," said Ewan Pritchard, P.E., Advanced Energy's hybrid program manager. "This bid award is the result of several years of collaborative effort among manufacturers, school districts and government agencies to change the school bus market." IC Corporation, in collaboration with Enova Systems, unveiled the nation's first hybrid school bus two weeks ago at the New York Association of Pupil Transportation (NYAPT) Show. The hybrid school bus is expected to attain a 40 percent increase in fuel efficiency, which becomes even more essential with the rising fuel costs affecting many school districts. "With fuel prices near all-time highs, new innovations in hybrid technology are needed to help customers in the school bus industry keep their operating costs lower," said Michael Cancelliere, vice president and general manager of IC Corporation. "We're proud that Advanced Energy recognizes the need to help our nation's school districts with energy-efficient school buses. In addition, even though current International diesel engines on many existing school buses produce no visible smoke and minimal emissions, the hybrid program will reduce engine emissions even further." -These members of Advanced Energy's buyers' consortium are currently scheduled to receive buses: • North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (2 buses) • South Carolina Department of Educations (2 buses) • State of New York (2 buses) • Florida Department of Education (2 buses) • Napa Valley Unified School District, Napa Valley, Calif. (1 bus) • Durham School Services, Everett, Wash. (1 bus) • Lake Chelan School District, Chelan, Wash. (1 bus) • City of Seattle (1 bus) • Little Rock, Ark., School District (1 bus) • Sigourney Community School District, Sigourney, Iowa (1 bus) • Nevada Community Schools, Nevada, Iowa (1 bus) • Killeen Independent School District, Texas (1 bus) • Austin Independent School District, Texas (1 bus) • Fairfax County, Va. (1 bus) • Jennings Transportation, Nazareth, Pa. (1 bus) The hybrid school bus project features Enova's post-transmission 80-kilowattHybrid Drive System and was extensively tested and evaluated at IC Corporation'sresearch and technology facility in Fort Wayne, Ind. The initial powertrain forthe hybrid school bus will couple an International(R) VT365 V8 diesel enginewith the 80-kilowatt hybrid-electric powertrain, incorporating a transmission,batteries and an electric motor. The system is based on a parallel architecture,allowing the system to utilize both diesel and electric power in a highlyefficient manner. The system recovers kinetic energy during regenerative braking, charging thebatteries while the bus is slowing down. This provides additional power foracceleration, making school buses ideal candidates for hybrid technology becauseof the frequent stops and starts they perform along their daily routes. "IC Corporation is committed to environmental leadership and delivering value toour customers," said Cancelliere. "We believe that diesel-electric hybridtechnology can be made commercially viable for the school bus industry and thiscollaboration is the next step in making that a reality." Funding to support Advanced Energy's initiative has come from North Carolina'selectric utilities (Duke Power, Progress Energy, Dominion North Carolina Powerand North Carolina electric cooperatives) and the State Energy Office in NorthCarolina. "Duke Energy is proud to support research and market development of alternativeand more energy efficient technologies," said Ellen Ruff, president of DukeEnergy Carolinas. "The hybrid electric school bus project is an exciting exampleof how key stakeholders from the utility industry, business and government canform partnerships that produce great benefits for communities in which we live." Advanced Energy is also welcoming additional funding at the state and privatelevel to expand this program to more school districts and other states. Moreinformation about the program can be found at www.hybridschoolbus.org. The hybrid bus announcement is the continuation of research and development fornew technology in a number of different vehicles. IC Corporation's parentcompany, International Truck and Engine Corporation, is working extensively onhybrid trucks for the utility and delivery industries. About IC Corporation IC Corporation, the nation's largest integrated school busmanufacturer, is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Truck and EngineCorporation. International produces school bus chassis, mid-range dieselengines, medium trucks, heavy trucks, severe service vehicles, and is a providerof parts and service sold under the International brand. Both IC andInternational are subsidiaries of Navistar International Corporation (NYSE:NAV). Additional information is available on their website at: www.ic-corp.com. About Enova Systems, Inc.Enova Systems is a leading supplier of efficient, environmentally friendlydigital power components and systems products. The company's core competenciesare focused on the development and commercialization of power management andconversion systems for mobile and stationary applications. Enova applies unique'enabling technologies' in the areas of alternative energy propulsion systemsfor medium and heavy-duty vehicles as well as power conditioning and managementsystems for distributed generation systems. The company develops, designs andproduces drive systems and related components for electric, hybrid-electric, andfuel cell powered vehicles. For further information, contact Enova Systemsdirectly, or visit its Web site at www.enovasystems.com. About Advanced EnergyAdvanced Energy is a Raleigh-based nonprofit corporation that enables utilitycustomers to improve returns on their energy investments. The corporation alsostrives to create environmental, economic and societal benefits throughinnovative and market-based approaches to energy. The Hybrid Electric School BusProject represents a collaborative effort among many parties to improve thenation's air quality. The project has demonstrated that industry, government andnon-profits can successfully work together to improve the environment andencourage the economy. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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