Growing Heavy-Duty Industry Support, Interest Highlights 4th Annual Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Conference

PASADENA, Calif.--Dec. 3, 2003--

"The Path Forward: Technologies & Solutions for Changing Times" Sponsorships Triple for Event Feb. 25-27, 2004

What new technologies and fuels are coming for heavy-duty vehicles, how much will they reduce emissions and fuel use, and how much might they cost? Reflecting the rapid change and growing concern over emission technology choices, industry support for the fourth annual Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Conference has tripled over the last year, setting the tone for the biggest conference yet.

Organized by WestStart-CALSTART and the U.S. Army's National Automotive Center (NAC), the conference provides a unique look across all heavy-duty vehicle technologies, fuels and solutions, not just one. It will take place February 25-27, 2004 at the Rancho Las Palmas Resort, Rancho Mirage, California. The updated agenda found at www.weststart.org is a who's who of the heavy-duty industry.

Industry and government support is keenly represented by an impressive array of sponsors such as the NAC, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), South Coast Air Quality Management District, AVL Powertrain Engineering, California Air Resources Board, California Energy Commission, Caterpillar, Engineered Machine Products (EMP), Integrated Concepts Research Corp. (ICRC), Mack Trucks and Engines, Mark IV Automotive, Michelin North America, Oshkosh Truck and Trillium USA.

"We are very pleased with the significant increase in industry support for this conference, which is the best annual collection of the top leaders in clean, heavy-duty vehicles -- across all technologies and all fuels," said John Boesel, president & CEO of WestStart-CALSTART. "Single-topic conferences provide good information in one area -- but this is the only conference that provides users and the industry with a more complete view of the full range of clean solutions coming forward. The industry is supporting it."

Conference sessions tackle the full range of coming solutions, from idle management to fuel cell propulsion to hybrids to new fuel formulations and after-treatment. Recently added to the agenda are experts from the Fuel Cell Propulsion Institute, the Paccar Technical Center and Argonne National Lab. They join colleagues representing both traditional and advanced technologies.

At a special kick-off session the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004, hosted by Alan Lloyd, chairman of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), truck engine makers will engage in a lively roundtable about responding to current government requirements. At lunch the next day, Charles Gray, director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Advanced Technology Division will speak about what's over the horizon.

Highlights from this year's program:

-- Updates from the nation's leading truck and engine OEMs on latest technologies

-- Strategies for off-road vehicles to deal with proposed new regulations

-- Briefings on hybrid, natural gas, and fuel cell technologies

-- Discussions on availability of cleaner fuels and state of the infrastructure

-- Reports on in-use fleet experiences with alternative fuel vehicles

Attendees also will be able to view the latest clean technologies and vehicles at the expanded conference exhibit site, featuring products from Caterpillar, Detroit Diesel, ISE Research, Mack Trucks, Michelin North America, Trillium, International Truck, SunLine Transit, Georgetown University, Delco Remy, and British Petroleum. Sponsorship and exhibit opportunities are still available. Contact Susan Romeo at 626-744-5600 or sromeo@calstart.org.

WestStart-CALSTART is North America's leading advanced transportation technologies consortium. It is a fuel neutral, participant-supported organization of more than 115 companies and agencies, dedicated to expanding and supporting a high-tech transportation industry that cleans the air, creates jobs and improves energy efficiency. WestStart-CALSTART is playing a leading national role in facilitating the development of advanced propulsion systems and alternative fuels in the transit and heavy-duty vehicle industry. Its California operating division does business as CALSTART. Visit www.weststart.org for more information.