The all-new 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon made its world debut at the New York International Auto Show. The TSX Sport Wagon offers a smart solution to modern utility needs with its balanced and efficient driving performance coupled with bold styling and versatile cargo capabilities.

“The TSX Sport Wagon represents a smart choice for those seeking a vehicle with utility,” said John Mendel, executive vice president, sales. “It’s practical, fun to drive, luxurious and technically advanced, all while achieving an outstanding estimated highway fuel economy rating of 30 miles per gallon*.”

The TSX Sport Wagon delivers flexible utility and generous interior space- perfect for those with a growing family or an active lifestyle. The TSX Sport Wagon boasts an innovative and highly functional rear cargo space that includes a removable side panel to accommodate wider items such as golf clubs and integrated under-floor bins for hidden storage. Along with this sizeable cargo space, the TSX Sport Wagon features a comfortable and spacious cabin with seating for up to five adults.

The TSX Sport Wagon’s practical utility is cleverly masked behind crisp lines and a sleek, European-inspired exterior. Bold wheel arches frame the 17-inch, 5-spoke aluminum wheels, giving the Sport Wagon an aggressive stance. The chiseled, muscular body and sloping roofline emphasize its performance capabilities while making it more aerodynamic.

Powering the TSX Sport Wagon is a 2.4-liter, DOHC i-VTEC®, inline four-cylinder engine paired with a Sequential SportShift 5-speed automatic transmission fit with steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters. The TSX Sport Wagon delivers brisk performance while achieving an EPA-estimated 30 mpg* on the highway. Drawing from its sports sedan roots, the TSX Sport Wagon features agile handling and quick off the line acceleration, allowing it to easily tackle a twisty mountain road or swiftly navigate through city streets.

To enhance the driving experience, the TSX Sport Wagon features the latest in advanced technologies including an available hard disk drive-based Acura Navigation System™ with an all-new 8-inch full VGA high-resolution color display and AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic and Weather™ featuring radar image mapping. For the audiophile, the TSX Sport Wagon will be available with an Acura/ELS Surround® Premium Audio System and a hard disk drive (HDD) for media storage. Additionally, the TSX Sport Wagon is equipped with an impressive list of standard features, including a power glass moonroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather seats, a premium sound system, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, and USB port and AUX jack music interface. Like all Acura vehicles, the TSX Sport Wagon will come with a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including Acura’s acclaimed Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure.

The 2011 TSX Sport Wagon will be an entry luxury utility offering when it arrives at Acura dealerships in the late fall. The Sport Wagon will join the TSX lineup, which already includes the popular 4-cylinder and sporty V-6 powered sports sedans.

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Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that the all-new ENEPO^*1 EU9iGB generator, which is powered by easily purchased, used and stored home-use butane canisters, will go on sale on May 13 at Honda power products dealers, Honda-designated home centers, Honda Cars automobile dealers and Honda motorcycle dealers throughout Japan.

The ENEPO EU9iGB generator is the second Honda power product after the Pianta FV200 rotary tiller to be powered by home-use butane gas canisters. Compact and offering output of 900 VA, the reasonably priced ENEPO EU9iGB generator is accessible in three ways. One, its butane fuel is easy to handle and manage. Two, the generator itself is easy to transport and store. Three, it is very easy to use.

The ENEPO EU9iGB generator features Honda’s original high-speed multi-polar alternator generation system and sine wave inverter, enabling it to provide power to fragile instruments such as personal computers, lighting, power tools, cooking equipment and other appliances using 900 W or less of electricity.^*2 Intended for use outside,^*3 the ENEPO EU9iGB generator has large casters and a fold-down handle that make it easy to push or pull with one hand, as well as packaging that makes it easy to stow and store. In addition, as compared to Honda gasoline-powered generators of identical output, the ENEPO EU9iGB produces approximately 10 percent lower CO₂ emissions per hour of work performed.^*4

Ideal as a power source for outdoor leisure activities and as a backup power source during power failures and similar situations, the ENEPO EU9iGB generator is positioned to create a new market for compact and convenient electrical generators.

*1	The name “ENEPO” signifies a new “epoch” of generators that make “energy” extremely “portable.”
*2	Before using the ENEPO EU9iGB generator, it is necessary to confirm the power consumption (W) of the devices to be powered (certain devices rated 900 W or lower may be incompatible with the ENEPO EU9iGB generator).
*3	To maintain safety, the ENEPO EU9iGB generator itself may be used outdoors only (the power it produces may be used indoors or outdoors).
*4	Honda calculations.

• Key Features of the ENEPO EU9iGB
	Easy to use in a wide variety of applications
1)	Fuel that is easy to use and store
	· For fuel, the ENEPO EU9iGB uses home-use butane gas canisters, which are widely available, easy to store and easy to use. Loaded with two canisters, the ENEPO EU9iGB can run continuously for approximately 1.1 hours at rated load with Eco-Throttle in operation to a maximum of approximately 2.2 hours at 1/4 load with Eco-Throttle in operation. The specified butane gas canisters are produced by Toho Metal Industries Co., Ltd. · To load a butane canister, the user simply aligns the tip of the canister with the arrow on the fuel loading port. A sensor lever prevents misalignment, helps the user lock a canister tip in place with a single motion and a fastening lever allows the user to position and load two canisters at the same time. · Butane gas fuel allows for clog-free operation. In addition, the canisters can be stored for an extended period of time, allowing for smooth and easy restarting of the generator. · A high-volume*5 impurity catch cup built into the regulator removes impurities, preventing them from entering the mixer. The result is enhanced generator startup after long periods of use and enhanced generator durability. *5 Approximately 550 canisters (300 hours of use at rated load)
2)	Easy to transport
	· The standard large casters and fold-down handle make the ENEPO EU9iGB easy to push or pull with one hand. · The ENEPO EU9iGB may be laid on its side for shipping or transport by car.*6 *6 For short-term storage or shipping only
3)	Easy to start
	· The simple, easy-to-understand startup process is clearly described in print on the unit, making it easy for even first-time users to start the ENEPO EU9iGB: 1. Open the gas canister cover and insert two canisters using the above-mentioned method. 2. Turn engine switch to ON. 3. Pull recoil grip to start.
4)	Easy to use
	· Thanks to Honda’s original sine wave inverter technology, the ENEPO EU9iGB produces a stable supply of electricity equivalent in quality to standard household power. · A parallel connecting cord (sold separately) allows two ENEPO EU9iGB units to be used together for combined output of 1,800 VA. The ENEPO EU9iGB may also be used in parallel with the Honda EU9i gasoline engine generator.*7 *7 Excluding the EU9i entry
	Outstanding environmental performance
	· The Eco-Throttle function automatically optimizes engine rpms based on the power consumption of powered devices, contributing to enhanced fuel economy and reduced noise. · As compared to Honda gasoline-powered generators of identical output, the ENEPO EU9iGB produces approximately 10 percent lower CO2 emissions per hour of work performed. · The standard silent muffler and engine cover reduce noise, allowing for early morning operation. · The ENEPO EU9iGB is officially designated as ultra-low-noise construction equipment under Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism noise regulations.
	Features for safety and convenience
	· The two fuel loading ports include check valves to prevent butane from flowing from a canister with higher pressure to a canister with lower pressure. · An accelerometer in the inverter senses if the unit falls over during operation, turning it off. In addition, a breather chamber between the crankcase and the mixer returns inflowing engine oil to the crankcase, preventing oil from leaking or smoldering should the unit fall over. · An LED display clearly indicates current output, as well as such warnings as overload, low oil, overturned unit and improper unit angle.
	Smart and slim design
	· Tall and slim and without protruding parts, the ENEPO EU9iGB is easy for even first-time users to understand and use. Its smart and slim design makes it easy to move about, load in a car and store. · Large, easy-to-understand instructions for using the ENEPO EU9iGB are printed on the unit itself for easy access at all times.
	Principal Specifications

Model		ENEPO EU9iGB
Rated AC output (50/60Hz)		100V – 900VA
Continuous operating hours (h)		Approximately 1.1 (rated load)-2.2 (1/4 load)*
Generator type		Multi-pole inverter
Operating Noise (dB[A]/LwA)		81 (3/4 load)*
		79 (1/4 load)-84 (rated load)*
Length (mm)		365
Width (mm)		262/442
Height (mm)		524/944
Dry weight (kg)		19.5
Overall equipment weight (kg)		20.4
Fuel type		Butane gas canisters*8
Fuel weight (g) (two canisters)		500 (standard weight of fuel in two canisters)
Startup temperature range (°C)		5-40
Engine model (type)		GXH57 (air-cooled 4-stroke single-cylinder OHV)
Displacement (cm3)		57.3
Ignition system		Fully transistorized (spark-advance control)
Starting system		Manual
Standard equipment	Generator/engine	Eco-Throttle, sine wave inverter control, parallel operation jack, overload warning lamp, output indicator lamp, low oil/overturned unit warning lamp
	Frame	Fold-down handle, large casters

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Recently named Nielsen “Automotive Ad of the Year,” an accolade based on the effectiveness of an ad in terms of positive consumer recollection, the debut TV commercial for the uniquely styled and award-winning 2010 Kia Soul five-door urban passenger vehicle now has been honored with a 2010 Silver EFFIE Award. The EFFIE Awards (short for effective), given by the American Marketing Association, New York Chapter, recognize the most effective advertising efforts in the U.S. each year. The Kia Soul television ad won the EFFIE in the “David v. Goliath” category, which grants awards to smaller, new or emerging brands that challenge category leaders head-on.

“Designed to offer consumers a ‘new way to roll’ with a distinct style and a number of personalization options, Soul is aimed at the young and young-at-heart looking for a vehicle perfectly suited to their personalities,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing, Kia Motors America. “The hamsters’ immediate popularity helped position Soul as Kia’s halo vehicle and showcased the brand’s emerging signature design direction, which, along with quality, safety and value, has propelled Kia to tier-one status.”

Created by David&Goliath, the Soul ad depicts city and suburban streets inhabited exclusively by hamsters who mindlessly run in place inside their exercise wheels until a Molten Red Kia Soul pulls up to a stoplight and the passenger window rolls down to reveal a trio of paw-tapping, music-loving hamsters who have discovered “A New Way to Roll.”

Portraying Soul as a lounge on wheels with its highly specified audio system that includes speaker lights that pulse to the beat of the music, the hamsters bob their heads to four different music tracks that appear in slightly different versions of the spot to keep each viewing fresh. Viewers with a sharp eye can identify song and artist information on the hamsters’ iPod® screen, and the campaign extended online with each track available for download at www.kiasoul.com.

The EFFIE Awards, judged by experienced business leaders from around the world, are selected using a two-round evaluation process analyzing entries on a stand-alone basis and then comparing them against other finalists in their category. Entries are evaluated using criteria intended to determine a marketing case’s overall effectiveness and given four scores in different areas analyzing specific attributes of the campaign, including Strategic Challenge and Objectives, Overall Idea, Bringing the Idea to Life and Results.

In response to the immense popularity of the initial campaign, the hamsters have made an encore appearance in the new “This or That” campaign, also created by David&Golath. In this new chapter of the Kia Soul hamster story, the loveable creatures are shown driving through city streets to the tune of the hip-hop song “The Choice is Yours” by The Black Sheep, giving viewers the choice between “This,” the funky and uniquely styled Soul, or “That,” a number of boring and mundane appliances on wheels, cardboard boxes or hamster wheels. The new spot debuted on cable on May 26 and can be seen in theaters and online.

Soul offers an immense amount of style and value on top of an extensive list of standard safety features sure to appeal to all consumers looking for a well-equipped vehicle suited to their personalities, including front seat active headrests, dual front advanced airbags, front seat-mounted and full-length side curtain airbags, an Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist System (BAS) and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Front and rear crumple zones, side-impact door beams, an impact-absorbing steering column and Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system also come standard.

Available in four trims, Soul, Soul+, Soul! (exclaim) and Soul sport, the five-door hatchback offers an attractive starting price below $14,000¹ as well as unique and utilitarian style. Designed with the young and young-at-heart in mind, Soul presents an immense amount of style, value and function with a surprisingly spacious interior. Passengers will benefit from numerous standard convenience features, including an AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system outfitted with SIRIUS® Satellite Radio capabilities (including a three month complimentary subscription)², and USB and auxiliary input jacks in the center console with full iPod³ and MP3 controllability via the audio head unit and steering wheel controls (achieved with an optional Kia accessory cable).

KMA has released four special edition Souls – Denim, Ignition, Shadow Dragon and most recently Ghost – based on the Soul+ trim. Offering consumers even more ways to personalize the Soul, each special edition comes with its own unique exterior color and packaging.

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Scientists have been hard at work harnessing the power of microbes as an attractive source of clean energy. Now, Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University researcher Dr. Prathap Parameswaran and his colleagues have investigated a means for enhancing the efficiency of clean energy production by using specialized bacteria.

Microbial electrochemical cells or MXCs are able to use bacterial respiration as a means of  liberating electrons, which can be used to generate current and make clean electricity.  With minor reconfiguring such devices can also carry out electrolysis, providing  a green path to hydrogen production, reducing reliance on natural gas and other fossil fuels, now used for most hydrogen manufacture.

MXCs resemble a battery, with a Mason jar-sized chamber setup for each terminal.  The bacteria are grown in the “positive” chamber (called the anode).  The research team, led by Bruce Rittmann, director of Biodesign’s Center for Environmental Biotechnology, had previously shown that the bacteria are able to live and thrive on the anode electrode, and can use waste materials as food, (the bacteria’s dietary staples include pig manure or other farm waste) to grow while transferring electrons onto the electrode to make electricity.

In a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC), like that used in the current study, the electrons produced at the anode join positiviely charged protons in the negative (cathode) chamber to form hydrogen gas. “The reactions that happen at the MEC anode are the same as for a microbial fuel cell which is used to generate electricity, “ Parameswaran says. “The final output is different depending on how we operate it.”

When the bacteria are grown in an oxygen-free, or anaerobic environment, they attach to the MXC’s anode, forming a sticky matrix of sugar and protein. In such environments, when fed with organic compounds, an efficient partnership of bacteria gets established in the biofilm anode, consisting of fermenters, hydrogen scavengers, and anode respiring bacteria (ARB). This living matrix, known as the biofilm anode, is a strong conductor, able to efficiently transfer electrons to the anode where they follow a current gradient across to the cathode side.

The present study demonstrates that the level of electron flow from the anode to the cathode can be improved by selecting for additional bacteria known as homo-acetogens,  in the anode chamber. Homo-acetogens capture the electrons from hydrogen in waste material, producing acetate, which is a very favorable electron donor for the anode bacteria.

The study shows that under favorable conditions, the anode bacteria could convert  hydrogen to current more efficiently after forming a mutual relationship or syntrophy with homo-acetogens. The team was also able to reduce the negative impact of other hydogen consuming microbes, such as methane-producing methanogens, which otherwise steal some of the available electrons in the system, thereby reducing current.  The selective inhibition of methanogens was accomplished by the adding a chemical called 2-bromoethane sulfonic acid to the adode’s microbial stew.

The group used both chemical and genomic methods to confirm the identify of homo-acetogens.  In addition to detection of acetate, formate, an intermediary product, was also discovered. With the aid of quantitative PCR analysis, the team was also able to pick up the genomic signature of acetogens in the form of FTHFS, a gene specifically associated with acetogenesis.

“We were able to establish that these homo-acetogens can prevail and form relationships,” Parameswaran says. Future research will explore ways to sustain syntrophic relations between homo-acetogens and anode bacteria, in the absence of the chemical inhibitors.

Further progress could pave the way for eventual large-scale commercialization of systems to simultaneously treat wastewater and generate clean energy. “One of the biggest limitations right now is our lack of knowledge,” says Cesar Torres, one of the current study’s co-authors, who stresses that there remains much to understand about the interactions of bacterial communities within MXCs.

The field is still very young, Torres points out, noting that work on MXCs only began about 8 years ago. “I think over the next 5-10 years the community will bring a lot of information that will be really helpful and that will lead us to good applications.”

The team’s results appear in the advanced online issue of the journal Bioresource Technology.

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MOSS LANDING, CA — MBARI’s Division of Marine Operations, under an agreement with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), sent a high-tech robotic submersible to the oily waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The goal is to collect information about the oil plume from the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig accident for NOAA.

Although satellites and aircraft can help show the extent of the spill at the surface, MBARI’s autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) will help researchers understand the nature and extent of any plumes of oil that may be hidden beneath the surface of the ocean.

The MBARI AUV is being deployed from the NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Gordon Gunter departed from shore on Thursday, May 27th. The AUV was launched into the waters of the Gulf for the first time this morning (May 28, 2010).

Autonomous underwater vehicles are robotic, untethered submersibles that are programmed at the surface, then navigate through the water on their own, collecting data as they go. The MBARI AUV can measure physical characteristics of the water, such as temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen, detect chlorophyll from microscopic marine algae, and measure concentrations of small particles (or oil droplets) in the water.

This AUV is unique in that it carries “gulper” samplers that can collect up to ten 1.8-liter water samples while traveling through the water (or through the plume in this case). The AUV also uses cutting-edge artificial intelligence software to decide where to go and when to collect its water samples. Engineers can program the on-board computers to help the AUV find a plume and then map its boundaries, as well as take water samples both within and outside the plume.

After the AUV is recovered, its water samples will be analyzed for a variety of chemicals associated with the oil and dispersants. These samples may also be subjected to DNA analysis to determine what types of algae, bacteria, or other microorganisms are present.

This MBARI AUV can dive to 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) below the surface—deep enough to collect water samples near the seafloor in the vicinity of the oil spill. The vehicle typically follows a “roller-coaster” path through the water, which allows its instruments to monitor a cross-section of the ocean.

MBARI engineers and scientists have been developing this AUV for almost a decade, and added its water-collection capability in 2007. One of the team’s goals has been to replace expensive shipboard measurements with information collected automatically by the AUV. The vehicle has been used to study red tides and other algal blooms and to understand and perform long-term water quality monitoring.

The MBARI team is excited by the prospect that their vehicle may be useful in understanding the Gulf oil spill. Information about where oil is spreading beneath the ocean surface will help biologists and others understand the effects of this catastrophic event.

“MBARI’s AUV and gulper system provides a surveillance and sample collection capability that is complementary to other tools being deployed to understand the fate of the subsurface plume of oil and dispersant.” said MBARI President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Scholin. “Coordinating this response in partnership with government and academic institutions is not only important for providing much-needed fundamental information on the spill and its impacts, but also serves as a valuable learning experience for understanding how to respond to such incidents in the future.”

MOSS LANDING, CA — MBARI’s Division of Marine Operations, under an agreement with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), sent a high-tech robotic submersible to the oily waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The goal is to collect information about the oil plume from the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig accident for NOAA.

Although satellites and aircraft can help show the extent of the spill at the surface, MBARI’s autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) will help researchers understand the nature and extent of any plumes of oil that may be hidden beneath the surface of the ocean.

The MBARI AUV is being deployed from the NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Gordon Gunter departed from shore on Thursday, May 27th. The AUV was launched into the waters of the Gulf for the first time this morning (May 28, 2010).

Autonomous underwater vehicles are robotic, untethered submersibles that are programmed at the surface, then navigate through the water on their own, collecting data as they go. The MBARI AUV can measure physical characteristics of the water, such as temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen, detect chlorophyll from microscopic marine algae, and measure concentrations of small particles (or oil droplets) in the water.

This AUV is unique in that it carries “gulper” samplers that can collect up to ten 1.8-liter water samples while traveling through the water (or through the plume in this case). The AUV also uses cutting-edge artificial intelligence software to decide where to go and when to collect its water samples. Engineers can program the on-board computers to help the AUV find a plume and then map its boundaries, as well as take water samples both within and outside the plume.

After the AUV is recovered, its water samples will be analyzed for a variety of chemicals associated with the oil and dispersants. These samples may also be subjected to DNA analysis to determine what types of algae, bacteria, or other microorganisms are present.

This MBARI AUV can dive to 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) below the surface—deep enough to collect water samples near the seafloor in the vicinity of the oil spill. The vehicle typically follows a “roller-coaster” path through the water, which allows its instruments to monitor a cross-section of the ocean.

MBARI engineers and scientists have been developing this AUV for almost a decade, and added its water-collection capability in 2007. One of the team’s goals has been to replace expensive shipboard measurements with information collected automatically by the AUV. The vehicle has been used to study red tides and other algal blooms and to understand and perform long-term water quality monitoring.

The MBARI team is excited by the prospect that their vehicle may be useful in understanding the Gulf oil spill. Information about where oil is spreading beneath the ocean surface will help biologists and others understand the effects of this catastrophic event.

“MBARI’s AUV and gulper system provides a surveillance and sample collection capability that is complementary to other tools being deployed to understand the fate of the subsurface plume of oil and dispersant.” said MBARI President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Scholin. “Coordinating this response in partnership with government and academic institutions is not only important for providing much-needed fundamental information on the spill and its impacts, but also serves as a valuable learning experience for understanding how to respond to such incidents in the future.”

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Navistar, Inc. today announced that one of the nation’s most environmentally sustainable cities and a leading advocate for energy-efficient transportation.—Portland, Ore.—will be the initial launch market for Navistar’s eStar™ truck—the first full-production, purpose-built all-electric truck.

“We’re excited to debut the eStar in Portland and give local media and government officials an up-close look at one of the coolest, most environmentally friendly commercial trucks on the road today,” said Jim Hebe, senior vice president, North American sales operations, Navistar. “As one of the most sustainable cities in the nation, a city like Portland can appreciate the amazing potential of the eStar all-electric truck when it comes to clean, energy-efficient transportation.”

“Freight and service trucks present the biggest opportunity for real and significant reductions in carbon emissions and pollution, especially in the urban environment,” said Portland Mayor Sam Adams. “Because of all Portland is doing to be a more sustainable and prosperous city and encourage the electric vehicle industry, I’m proud that Navistar chose Portland as its initial launch city for the eStar purpose-built, all-electric truck.”

Navistar also announced its eStar dealer for the Pacific Northwest market—Cascadia International Trucks of Tacoma, Wash. With more than 50 years experience, Cascadia International has a reputation for outstanding customer service and will provide all sales, service and parts needs for eStar customers in the region.

“With the eStar truck making its debut in Portland today, Navistar is fully capable to support our customers through select dealers networked in our initial launch regions,” Hebe added. “No other commercial electric vehicle competes with the eStar in terms of capacity, size and application. We believe customers will love the eStar because of its capabilities as an electric vehicle and won’t have to change their fleet usage in order to take advantage of the truck’s performance.”

The eStar all-electric truck is the first medium-duty commercial vehicle to receive U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification as a clean fuel fleet vehicle as well as California Air Resources Board (CARB) certification as a zero-emissions vehicle.

This Class 2c-3 electric truck—the first in its category—has a range of 100 miles per charge, making it ideal for many urban applications. When it returns to its home base at the end of the day, it can be plugged in and fully recharged within six to eight hours.

“The all-electric eStar commercial truck is a groundbreaking product and Navistar is once again leading the way in bringing innovative, game-changing products to market,” Hebe added. “Along with the advancements we’ve made in aerodynamics and fuel efficiency for heavy trucks, our comprehensive line-up of hybrid trucks and school buses, and now with the addition of the eStar all-electric truck, Navistar has the largest portfolio of energy-efficient, environmentally friendly trucks in the industry.”

The eStar all-electric truck transitioned from concept to reality in August 2009, when President Barack Obama visited Navistar’s manufacturing plant in Indiana to announce a $39.2 million federal stimulus grant to build electric trucks. Less than one year later, Navistar has completed testing and validation, developed and delivered prototype vehicles, and received EPA and CARB certifications. The eStar meets all Federal Motor Vehicles Safety Standards (FMVSS) and Navistar is now taking orders and building these all-electric trucks.

Unlike other electric trucks that are reconfigured models of fossil-fuel trucks, the eStar truck has been purpose-built for electric power, creating an advantage with a low center of gravity (the battery is between the frame rails, not mounted on top) and a 36-foot turning radius. The eStar is engineered with superior aerodynamics, a walk-through cab and a quick-change cassette-type battery that can be swapped out in 20 minutes, enabling around the clock operation. It is capable of carrying payloads up to two tons.

With zero tailpipe emissions, each eStar truck can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 10 tons annually. Drivers will be able to experience the ultimate in ergonomic design as the windshield provides nearly 180-degree visibility, the low-floor design provides easy loading/unloading and the noise level is near zero, which makes this nimble vehicle ideal for urban areas facing noise challenges.

Sales of the eStar all-electric vehicle are conducted through a wholly owned Navistar affiliate. The eStar truck is produced through the Navistar-Modec EV Alliance, LLC, the joint venture between Navistar, Inc. and Modec Limited of the United Kingdom.

For decades, Navistar has demonstrated a commitment to technologies that benefit the environment and its customers. In 1989, Navistar was the first original equipment manufacturer to release the smokeless diesel engine and, in 2001, Navistar was the first engine manufacturer to gain certification from the EPA for meeting particulate and hydrocarbon emissions standards – six years ahead of schedule. The company was also the first to enter line production of hybrid commercial trucks and hybrid school buses.

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