ADVISORY/Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Conference to Explore Trends in Advanced Propulsion Systems, Fuels.

News & Automotive Editors/Energy & Environment Writers

ADVISORY...for March 21-March 23

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

      WestStart, U.S. Army National Automotive Center Conference
Features Speakers from EPA, DOE, Advanced Transportation Technologies,
                        Auto, Energy Industries

What:   WestStart and the U.S. Army National Automotive Center
        "Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles for the 21st Century: Exploring
        Trends in Advanced Technologies and Fuels" will address the
        latest trends in advanced propulsion technologies and fuels
        for heavy-duty vehicles as we head into the 21st Century.

Where:  Sheraton San Marcos Resort (San Tan Room)
        One San Marcos Drive
        Chandler, Arizona
        480/812-0900

When:   March 21 - 23, 2001 (see attached conference agenda )
        March 22 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
        March 23 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon

Who:    Presentations from representatives of the U.S. EPA; National
        Energy Technology Lab; South Coast Air Quality Management
        District; American Trucking Assns; Syntroleum Corp.; BP/ARCO;
        Phillips Petroleum; Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition; National
        Biodiesel Board; Freightliner; Volvo Trucks, North America;
        International Truck & Engine Company; Oshkosh Truck Co.;
        Allison Electric Drive; BAE Systems Control; Westport
        Innovations; ISE Research; Capstone Turbine; Sturman
        Industries; Ovonic Battery; Dennis Wend, Executive Director,
        U.S. Army National Automotive Center; John Boesel, President,
        WestStart

Background:  Heavy-duty vehicles -- both on and off-road -- are under
             more scrutiny than ever from regulatory agencies, which
             are requiring truck and engine manufacturers to reduce
             emissions and increase fuel efficiency. At the same time,
             the truck manufacturing industry is being hit hard by
             the increase in the price of diesel fuel. These
             concurrent trends are having a significant impact on
             the heavy-duty vehicle industry. Many new and cutting
             edge, advanced transportation technologies are making
             their way into the commercial marketplace to address
             these concerns -- better, more fuel-efficient vehicle
             engines, cleaner diesel and alternative fuels, and
             advanced transportation technologies. What does this
             mean for the future of the heavy-duty vehicle industry?
             Representatives and decision-makers from government,
             the heavy-duty vehicle industry, and energy companies
             will discuss these issues.


           "Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles for the 21st Century:
         Exploring Trends in Advanced Technologies and Fuels"
                           March 21-23, 2001
           Sheraton San Marcos Resort and Conference Center
                           Chandler, Arizona

                           Conference Agenda


Wednesday, March 21

4:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Registration
Cibola Patio Area

6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Welcoming Reception
Poolside (enter off Cibola Patio)

Thursday, March 22

7:30- 10:00 a.m.

Registration
San Tan Room foyer

7:30- 8:30 a.m.

Buffet Breakfast
Pergola Patio

8:00 - 12:00 p.m.
San Tan Room

   Driving the Change

   What environmental and economic issues are stimulating the move to
   advanced transportation technologies and cleaner fuels for heavy-
   duty vehicles? How are industry and the government addressing these
   issues? What are their perspectives of the future for clean
   technologies and fuels?

         8:00 - 8:10       Welcome

         8:10 - 8:35       "Trends in Clean Advanced Technologies
                           and Fuels:  A Global Perspective,"
                           John Boesel, President, WestStart

         8:35 - 8:50       "The U.S. Army: Partnering with Industry
                           for the 21st Century," Dennis Wend,
                           Executive Director, U.S. Army National
                           Automotive Center

         8:50 - 9:15      "Manufacturing Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles
                          for the 21st Century:  An Industry
                          Perspective,"  William Gouse, Executive
                          Engineer, Freightliner

         9:15 -  9:40     "Developing Clean Technologies for Heavy-
                          Duty Vehicles," Fred Cartwright, Project
                          Manager, Allison Electric Drive

         9:45 - 10:00     Break


         10:00 - 10:25    "Using New Technologies and Fuels in Heavy-
                          Duty Vehicles,"  Carl Kirk, Vice President,
                          American Trucking Associations

         10:25 - 10:50    "What are the Environmental Challenges Fuels
                          Must Meet for the 21st Century?"  Karl
                          Simon, Deputy Director, Assessment and
                          Standards Division, U.S. Environmental
                          Protection Agency

         10:50 - 11:15    "The Role of Regulation in Driving Clean
                          Technologies and Fuels," Dr. Chung Liu,
                          Deputy Executive Officer, South Coast Air
                          Quality Management District

         11:15 - 11:35    "Clean Fuels and Technologies:  The Quest
                          for Public Health," Tim Carmichael,
                          Executive Director, Coalition for Clean Air

         11:35 - 12:00    "Clean Transit in the 21st Century"  TBD,
                          Department of Transportation


12:00 - 1:15 p.m.

         Luncheon
         Pergola Patio     Keynote Speaker

         12:45 - 1:15      "Heavy-Duty Trucks for the 21st Century:
                           Meeting the Global Challenge to be Clean
                           and Fuel Efficient,"  Susan Alt, Vice
                           President, Business Development, Volvo
                           Truck Company of North America

1:30 - 5:00 p.m.
San Tan Room

   Advanced Diesel, Synthetic Fuels, and Alternative Fuels

   What will be the dominant fuels for heavy-duty vehicles in the
   21st century which will meet the economic and environmental
   challenges? Will diesel maintain its dominance in the near term
   future? What is the future for synthetic fuels and alternative
   fuels?

        1:30 - 2:00        "Trends in Clean Fuels: The U.S. DOE Ultra
                           Clean Transportation Fuel Initiative" V.K.
                           Venkataraman, Greg Kawalkin, Fred Brown,
                           National Energy Technology Laboratory

        2:00 - 2:25        "Reducing the Sulfur Content in Diesel:
                           Making Diesel a Clean Fuel," Joseph
                           Kaufman, Project Manager, Phillips
                           Petroleum

        2:25 - 2:50        "Using Clean Diesel: The EC1 Demonstration
                           Program," Chuck LeTavec, Principal
                           Engineer, BP/ARCO

        2:50 - 3:15        "The Role of Synthetic Fuels for Heavy-Duty
                           Vehicles:  A Gas-to-Liquids Technology
                           Update,"  Mark Agee, President/COO,
                           Syntroleum Corporation

        3:15 - 3:30        Break

        3:30 - 3:55        "Natural Gas:  Taking the Lead as an
                           Alternative Fuel for Heavy-Duty Vehicles"
                           Rich Kolodziej, President, Natural Gas
                           Vehicle Coalition

        3:55 - 4:20        "Biodiesel:  An Emerging Alternative Fuel
                           for Heavy-Duty Vehicles," Joseph Jobe,
                           Executive Director, National Biodiesel
                           Board

        4:20 - 4:45        "Heavy-Duty Diesel Emissions Reduction
                           Technology for 2007," Nigel Gale, Vice
                           President, Engine and Vehicle Research
                           Division, Southwest Research Institute


Hospitality Suite
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Hospitality Room 109

Conference Dinner - Western Style Barbeque
7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Golf Course Pavilion



Friday, March 23

7:30 a.m.

Buffet Breakfast
Pergola Patio

8:00 - 12:30
San Tan Room

   Heavy-Duty Vehicle Propulsion Systems

   What will be the dominant propulsion system and the enabling
   technologies rising to meet the challenge?

         8:00 - 8:25       "Technologies for the Next Generation of
                           Engines," Graham Weller, Vice President,
                           Engineering, Ricardo, Inc.

         8:25 - 8:50       "Achieving Diesel-Like Efficiency with
                           Natural Gas,"  Alex Klopfer, Vice
                           President, Marketing and Sales, Westport
                           Innovations

         8:50 - 9:15       "The Oshkosh Diesel-Electric Hybrid
                           System," Don Verhoff, Vice President,
                           Technology, Oshkosh Truck Company

         9:15 - 9:40       "A Comparison of Hybrid Electric and Diesel
                           Propulsion Systems," Steve Cortese, Senior
                           Manager, Business Development, BAE Systems
                           Control

         9:40 - 10:05      "Developing a Clean `Green' Diesel
                           Propulsion System for Heavy-Duty
                           Vehicles," Jim Marcoux, Vice President,
                           Sales and Marketing, International Truck
                           and Engine Company

         10:00 - 10:20     Break

         10:20 - 10:45     "Using Fuel Cells in Heavy-Duty Vehicles,"
                           Richard Riegel, Vice President, Thor
                           Industries, David Maziaka, ISE Research
                           Corp.

         10:45 - 11:10     "Microturbines as an Enabling Technology in
                           Heavy-Duty Vehicle Propulsion Systems,"
                           Mark Aramli, Vice President, Business
                           Development, Capstone Turbine

         11:10 - 11:35    "Digital Controls for Advanced Diesel
                          Efficiency and Emission Reduction," Eddie
                          Sturman, Vice President, Sturman Industries

         11:35 - 12:00    "Energy Storage for Hybrid Drivetrains in
                          Heavy-Duty Vehicles," Greg Fritz, Marketing
                          Manager, ECD/Ovonic Battery Company

Golf is available in the afternoon. Tee times for conference
attendees are from 2:00 - 2:40 p.m. Please arrange for tee times at
registration check-in.

A hospitality room is located in Room 109 for informal meetings
for conference attendees. Please sign up at the
registration/information desk for a limited number of time slots.