Clean Air Partners Demonstrates Ultra-Low Emissions with Dual-Fuel Engine; New Technology to Enable Practical Clean Vehicle Applications Before 2004.

Business Editors

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 8, 2002

In its ongoing efforts to develop and commercialize technologies to reduce engine emissions, Clean Air Partners (CAP), has demonstrated ultra-low emissions on their C-12 Dual-Fuel(TM) truck engine through a project sponsored by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

With NOx levels of only 0.5 g/bhp-h and particulate matter (PM) measuring 0.004 g/bhp-h, the system has established new benchmarks for CAP's ultra-low emission technology.

"This project is part of Phase I of the Next Generation Natural Gas Vehicles (NGNGV) Program led by The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and NREL, to develop advanced, commercially viable, medium- and heavy-duty NGVs," explained HC Wong, chief engineer at Clean Air Partners and the program manager of the project.

Combining the company's current Dual-Fuel product with an active aftertreatment and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, laboratory data demonstrate the viability of the proposed technologies. "By 2004, this can enable a commercially practical vehicle powered by an engine with NOx emissions of 0.2 g/bhp-h or lower that meet the 2007 EPA emission regulations," added HC Wong.

Dr. John Beck, chief technology officer of CAP stated, "By implementing CAP's advanced emissions reduction technology on the company's Dual-Fuel engines, next generation Dual-Fuel engines will represent a significant step-change in NGV technology. The NGNGV will be the key to reducing oil imports and vehicle pollutants."

CAP's existing Dual Fuel systems use diesel fuel as a pilot for combustion that ignites under the heat of compression to produce substantially less nitrous oxide and particulates than engines burning diesel alone without sacrificing diesel-like performance. This technology takes the benefits of a diesel engine (quick response to load change, reliability, high efficiency and low cost) and combines it with the benefits of a natural gas engine (low emissions and typically lower specific fuel price) to provide a high performance, low emissions, cost effective, clean system that can also reduce fuel costs. Aftertreatment technologies such as those tested as part of the NREL project will enable further reductions in emissions. CAP has already developed and sold more than 1,500 Caterpillar Dual-Fuel systems for electronically controlled truck engines as part of a partnership with Caterpillar.

For more information about Clean Air Partners and their Dual Fuel technology, please visit www.cleanairpartners.com.

Clean Air Partners was founded in 1991 to develop technologies that would allow diesel engines to operate with the low emission benefits of natural gas while retaining the power, efficiency, longevity, and cost effectiveness of compression ignition engines. Since that time, CAP has broadened its mission to include a wider range of diesel emission technologies and applications. CAP offers time-proven products which are based on its patented proprietary technologies. About 1,300 heavy-duty engines have been upgraded with CAP Dual-Fuel systems. CAP currently has customers in the U.S., Mexico and various European countries. CAP's sub-components are used in low emission vehicles produced by some of the world's largest automotive and truck manufacturers. CAP is currently developing innovative low emission Electric Power Generation products for the distributed generation market.