Syntroleum Synthetic Fuels Demonstrated in Dodge Power Wagon
21 May 1999
Syntroleum Synthetic Fuels Demonstrated in Dodge Power Wagon TULSA, Okla., May 20 -- Synthetic fuels made from natural gas
via the Syntroleum Process(TM) are being used in demonstration drives of the
Dodge Power Wagon concept vehicle, as part of the DaimlerChrysler Ride & Drive
Program that began May 11 at the Pocono International Raceway near Long Pond,
PA. The Ride & Drive Program, conducted mainly for the media and VIPs, is
scheduled to take place in numerous US cities over the summer months,
including Washington DC, Detroit, Chicago and Pebble Beach. It is
designed to showcase DaimlerChrysler concept vehicles and technology to
reduce emissions that were introduced at the 1999 North American
International Auto Show in Detroit last January.
The Dodge Power Wagon is powered by a 7.2-liter, direct injection I-6
turbocharged diesel engine that generates 780 lb.-ft. of torque. It is
specifically designed to burn clean "designer" fuel like that being
jointly developed by DaimlerChrysler and Syntroleum . The
fuel is free of sulfur, aromatics and heavy metals, thus reducing exhaust
emissions of NOx, hydrocarbons and particulates that normally are emitted
by compression-ignition engines. These fuels produce significantly lower
emissions than regular diesel when used in conventional diesel engines,
and are particularly well-suited to the new generation of compression-
ignition engines which may soon power new automobiles and trucks that
must meet the tighter emission standards that are being adopted in the US
and elsewhere. The efficiency of the new generation diesel engines
combined with designer fuels can potentially cut CO2 emissions by half,
compared to gasoline powered vehicles.
Bernard Robertson, Senior Vice President-Engineering and Technology with
DaimlerChrysler recently stated that "with further refinement of engine
technologies, exhaust after-treatments and cleaner fuels, diesel engines
will be a major player as we continue to look for more efficient and
cleaner powertrain alternatives." The new designer fuels could also
provide a big boost to the development of advanced technologies that will
help DaimlerChrysler improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions of
carbon dioxide even more, according to Robertson. Potentially the
cleanest practical hydrocarbon fuels ever made, the new fuels would also
be ideally suited for future technologies such as fuel cells, hybrid
electric vehicles and direct injection, spark ignition gasoline engines.
"Designer fuels made from natural gas could help the energy industry
meet the proposed 2004 regulations on fuels," stated Mark Agee,
Syntroleum president and chief operating officer. "Unlike many
alternative fuels being discussed, synthetic fuels are a technology of
today and are in a position to be broadly available -- using the existing
distribution infrastructure and running in today's engines -- within a few
years." According to some estimates, there is enough stranded natural
gas around the world-gas that is currently shut-in or wasted in the
course of oil production-to manufacture more than 500 billion barrels of
synthetic fuels.
Tulsa-based Syntroleum Corporation is a technology company
that licenses its proprietary process for converting natural gas into
synthetic crude oil and sulfur-free transportation fuels. Current
licensees of the process include ARCO, Enron, Kerr-McGee Marathon, Texaco
and YPF.
This document includes forward-looking statements as well as historical
information. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
statements relating to the testing, certification, characteristics and
use of synthetic fuels and alternative fuels, the Syntroleum Process and
related technologies and products, GTL plants based on the Syntroleum
Process (including the development of planned plants), the economic use
of such plants and the continued development of the Syntroleum Process.
When used in this document, the words "anticipate," "believe,"
"estimate," "expect," "intent," "may," "project," "plan" "should," and
similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify
forward-looking statements. Although Syntroleum believes that its
expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are
reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties and no
assurance can be given that actual results will be consistent with these
forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual
results to differ from these forward-looking statements include the
potential that commercial-scale GTL plants will not achieve the same
results as those demonstrated on a laboratory or pilot basis or that such
plants will experience technological and mechanical problems, the
potential that improvements to the Syntroleum Process currently under
development may not be successful, the impact on plant economics of
operating conditions (including energy prices), competition, intellectual
property risks, Syntroleum's ability to obtain financing and other risks
described in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
(R) "Syntroleum" is registered as a trademark and service mark in the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.