ESI Press Releases and other News PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 03, 2006 Fuel Cost Savings and Lower Emissions for Fleet Operators - Emission Solutions, Inc. (ESI) 7.6L Natural Gas Engine Earns CARB & EPA Certification Emission Solutions, Inc (ESI) has earned its CARB Executive Order and EPA Certificate of Conformity that affirms NOx+NMHC= 0.8 g/bhp-hr and PM = 0.01 g/bhp-hr for its high-performance dedicated heavy-duty natural gas engine (ESI Phoenix NG 7.6L). This milestone means that fleet owners have additional options for adding low-cost OEM natural gas engines to their fleet taking advantage of lower fuel costs and reduced emissions, while economically utilizing engine and fuel system replacements rather than an entire vehicle replacement. Available using compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG) as its fuel source, the ESI Phoenix NG 7.6L combines the environmental advantage of a clean-burning natural gas engine with better power and torque for heavy-duty refuse trucks, food/beverage delivery trucks, municipal works trucks, medium-duty trucks and transit and school bus applications. Improved Energy Security The ESI Phoenix NG 7.6L natural gas engine improves energy security for any fleet that desires diverse fueling solutions to keep its trucks on the road, protected from radical petroleum price spikes and other energy threats that can slow or shut down truck operation and maintenance. “We are excited to offer our customers a reliable product with the power required to take on heavy-duty payloads above 190 horsepower” said Jim Moore, President of Emission Solutions, Inc. The Phoenix NG 7.6L natural gas engine offers the cleanliness and cost effectiveness of natural gas without compromising performance. Truly, the cleanest commercialized heavy-duty engine in the market, today--” Impressive Performance The ESI Phoenix NG 7.6L is the first heavy-duty engine in ESI’s product line that will replace older heavy-duty International DT-466 ™ diesel engines in short-haul and distribution fleets. Designed with cryogenically-treated components, the ESI Phoenix NG 7.6L operates as a Stoichiometric Spark-Ignited internal combustion engine. At 7.6 Liters, the ESI Phoenix NG 7.6L has recorded an improved power-to-weight ratio with 265 horsepower (hp) at 1,917 revolutions per minute (rpm) and 820 lb-ft at 1,347 rpm weighing in at only 1190 lbs. Government Incentives With increasing government support for natural gas as a transportation fuel, the ESI Phoenix NG 7.6L qualifies for a range of Federal and State incentives to lower entry costs. These incentives also extend to refueling infrastructure to support natural gas-fueled fleets, allowing fleet operators to realize significant fuel cost and operational savings. About Emissions Solutions Inc Emission Solutions, Inc (ESI), with its sales and R&D facilities in McKinney, Texas, is a ‘total solutions provider’ that designs, develops, manufactures and markets low-emission, gaseous-fueled engines available in existing or new chassis’. http://www.emissionsolutionsinc.com April 19, 2005 CONTACT: Jerry Martin Gennet Paauwe (916) 322-2990 Polluters' Lawsuit has Court Hearing on Earth Day SACRAMENTO - In an ironic twist, on Earth Day, April 22, 2005, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) will once again confront Caterpillar, Cummins, Volvo, and Mack for producing nearly one million diesel truck engines that have defeat devices, which needlessly increase emissions and endanger public health. The initial court hearing will be held on Earth Day, the internationally recognized day where the importance of environmental stewardship is observed. "The actions of these manufacturers have put many lives at risk and cost California millions of dollars," said ARB Executive Officer Catherine Witherspoon. "Now these manufacturers are suing the ARB to avoid their responsibilities. They want truck owners, their customers, to pay the cost of correcting the software programmed to emit excess pollution." ARB engineers working with USEPA discovered that manufacturers were using dual calibrations on engines produced between 1993 and 1998. These heavy-duty diesel engines sold across the United States were equipped with emission control systems with defeat devices that allowed excess emissions of smog forming oxides of nitrogen (NOx). The investigation revealed that since the early 1990s the manufacturers used electronic timing devices that cause the engines to perform one way when being tested for compliance and another under actual highway conditions. The system was designed to recognize normal highway operation and then increase fuel economy at the expense of greater emissions of NOx. USEPA and ARB brought enforcement actions in 1998, and subsequently the parties reached a settlement. Part of the settlement stipulated that the manufacturers would develop software to correct their onboard programs and eliminate emission increases. This software, the manufacturers agreed, would be "reflashed" (loaded onto the systems' computers) onto every engine as they came in for rebuild or at the consumer's request. Through the negotiations with manufacturers, ARB expected the rebuilds would occur between 300,000 to 500,000 miles. In reality many trucks were not brought in for rebuild until much later; from 750,000 to one million miles. Subsequently, this vastly increased the time the engines spewed pollution at higher levels. By March of 2004, only thirteen percent of the engines with defeat devices had been corrected. ARB calculates that the amount of excess pollution emitted in California by the vehicles is about 1.5 million tons of NOx. To address this problem, at its March 2004 hearing ARB agreed to work with manufacturers on a voluntary program to "reflash" these engines by 2008. As markers of progress the ARB agreed to targets of 35 percent by October 2004; 60 percent by May 31, 2005; 80 percent by January 31, 2006; and ultimately 100 percent by 2008. As a backstop to the volunteer program, the ARB adopted a regulation that would legally require upgrades to be installed by the manufacturers if the targets were not met. An update to the Board in October 2004 made clear that the targets were in jeopardy. At the December 9, 2004, hearing, the Board confirmed that all but one manufacturer failed to meet its voluntary program target. Therefore, the Board directed staff to file the regulation with the Office of Administrative Law, activating the regulation and requiring manufacturers to promptly reflash all the engines. Instead, several of the manufacturers sued ARB. "Besides the breathing public, the biggest victims from all this are the truck owners and operators," Ms. Witherspoon added. "They are the ones who are exposed most directly to the increased emissions and may ultimately have to pay for the software upgrades." For more information click here. The Air Resources Board is a department of the California Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. The ARB .