China's 1.2 Billion Population Is Stage for IMPCO Expansion; Reducing Air Pollution From
Diesel Exhaust Is Major Concern
Sept 28th,2000
....Dr. Loren Gettel, Director of IMPCO's Heavy Duty Fuel Systems division, located in Seattle,
Washington said, "We have been working with four of the largest engine manufacturers in China
including the Jinan Diesel Engine Works, Shengli Power Machine Factory, Wuxe Diesel Engine
Works, and Yulin Diesel Works. All of these major Chinese heavy-duty engine manufacturers have
programs to develop spark ignition alternate fuel versions of their most popular diesel engines."
IMPCO has been supplying fuel system technology to allow these engines to operate efficiently and
with minimum emissions. Jinan, Shengli, and Wuxe have been concentrating on a spark ignition
engine based on the Cummins 5.9 liter diesel engine. A natural gas or LPG version of this engine is
ideally suited for medium size buses and trucks. IMPCO has also been working with Yulin to develop a
7.8 L turbocharged LPG bus engine. A demonstration bus is currently operating and the preliminary
results are most encouraging. Production of this low emission bus is planned to start in 2001 with
initial volume planned for six hundred buses. The buses will enter service in Beijing and Tanjin.
"China is on the cutting edge using alternate fuels as a means of reducing exhaust emission,
dependency on imported oil and lowering transportation costs. China is among the first countries to
look into the future and see where alternate fuels can lead them. As the population continues to rise
past 1.2 billion people, the market potential becomes enormous," Dr. Gettel added.
IMPCO Powered Natural Gas Trucks Pass 4,000,000 Kilometer Mark
Tuesday, October 3, 2000 08:03 AM
Eclipse Fuel and Engine Management System for Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Trucks Fueled By Mobil
and British Gas Infrastructure
SEATTLE, Oct. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- IMPCO Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMCO, news, msgs)
announced today that it plans to start full-scale OEM production of the Eclipse heavy-duty natural gas
engine management system in early 2001. Since 1997, Safeway stores and BOC truck fleets in the
UK have been successfully using the Eclipse low emissions technology and now with more than
4,000,000 kilometers of service the system has provided fleet operators with significant fuel cost
savings combined with the inherent clean burning advantages of natural gas and LNG engines.
Dr. Lorne Gettel, Director of IMPCO's Heavy Duty Fuel Systems division, located in Seattle,
Washington said, "The significance of this milestone cannot be overstated. IMPCO, in conjunction with
major engine and truck OEMs, have proven not only the durability of the Eclipse system, but have
shown that trucks and other traditionally diesel fueled equipment all over the world can now benefit from
this technology. The results are considerable in terms of reduced engine wear; reduced exhaust
pollutants and in particular reduced levels of harmful diesel exhaust particulates. CNG is currently half
the price of diesel fuel oil and an average fleet truck driving 130,000 kilometers per year can save well
over US$15,000 in fuel costs. An added benefit for diesel platforms is the reduction of engine noise."
This Eclipse has been designed to optimize performance and fuel economy, while at the same time
minimizing exhaust emissions. It features advanced electronic control for all major engine systems,
and replaces the multiple electronic control units usually found on natural gas trucks and buses, with a
single electronic control unit. The Eclipse system is used with high output, lean burn, turbocharged
natural gas engines. Eclipse controls air fuel ratio, ignition, turbocharger boost pressure, drive by wire,
vehicle speed limiting, on-board diagnostics, knock control and misfire detection.
"The Eclipse system represents a major step forward in natural gas engine control technology, and
offers improved performance over the highly successful IMPCO HD AFE systems installed on Perkins
Eagle natural gas engines," Dr. Gettel added.
The Eclipse system is applicable to all types of trucks, engines and equipment where natural gas is
preferred over diesel fuel. For more detailed information, please contact Kathe Briggs at
+1-206-575-1594 or kbriggs@impcotechnologies.com |
