Washington Bus System to Reduce Soot and Smog With New Cleaire Diesel Retrofit Product

    SAN LEANDRO, Calif.--June 10, 2003--The Washington (D.C.) Metro Area Transit Authority is evaluating a new product developed here to dramatically reduce both black soot and smog-producing emissions from diesel buses.
    The Longview, produced by Cleaire Advanced Emission Controls, is the first product that can be installed on existing diesel engines to reduce both particulate matter, the small particles of black soot in diesel exhaust, and oxides of nitrogen (NOx), a prime contributor to smog. Both particulate matter and smog have been linked to asthma and other respiratory illnesses.
    The Longview is distributed in the District of Columbia by Cummins Power Systems, Inc. of Glen Burnie, Md.
    The Washington transit authority already has installed the Longview on one bus, and will install it on five more test units early this summer.
    "The Longview retrofit product offers great potential for cleaning up diesel exhaust, while maintaining the efficiency of our fleet," said Jack Requa, Metro's chief operating officer for bus. "Other transit agencies have found that it also is easy to install and maintain. Following our assessment of the test installations, we hope funds will be available to retrofit additional buses in our fleet."
    In April the California Air Resources Board verified that the Longview reduces particulate matter by 85 percent and NOx by 25 percent. The product was introduced in 2001 and has been installed on approximately 70 buses and trucks in cities throughout California.
    "We're very pleased to have an opportunity to demonstrate the effectiveness of this system in the nation's capital," said Roger Morrison, Cummins Power Systems vice president of sales. "Retrofitting produces immediate improvements in air quality. We're proud to offer a product that maintains the efficiency and reliability of diesel engines while improving air quality."
    The product replaces the muffler on diesel-powered vehicles.
    Cleaire is a division of Cummins West, Inc., the Cummins engine distributor for northern and central California. Fleetguard Emission Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cummins, Inc., markets the Longview nationally, offering installation capacity and product support through the Cummins distribution network.
    Cleaire is also developing other products to address specific segments of the diesel engine population, and expects verification of these additional emission control systems later this year.
    Cleaire Advanced Emission Controls (www.Cleaire.com) is a division of Cummins West, Inc. Cleaire develops and manufactures retrofit systems that reduce emissions from diesel engines. Headquarters are at 14775 Wicks Blvd., San Leandro, CA 94577.