Enova to Provide IC Corporation Hybrid Drive Systems for New Line of Commercial Buses
TORRANCE, Calif.--Enova Systems, (AMEX:ENA) (AIM:ENV) (AIM:ENVS), an early stage production company in an emerging industry and a leading developer of proprietary electric, hybrid and fuel cell digital power management systems, is pleased to announce that it has partnered with IC Corporation to provide hybrid systems for their new line of hybrid commercial buses. The innovative new buses were introduced last week in Chicago at BusCon, America’s largest commercial bus conference. The Hybrid option on the buses will be completed with Enova’s Post Transmission Parallel Hybrid Drive System. The Post Transmission System is available with either a Charge Depleting or Charge Sustaining Battery Technology. The technologies are expected to improve fuel economy/miles per gallon up to 100%.
The Post Transmission System is one in which the Electric Drive System is integrated behind the Transmission and is designed to be installed as a "drop in," fully integrated turnkey fashion into an OEM production line, or retrofitted in post vehicle production in a modular, "as-needed" basis. Enova’s Post Transmission System has proven, in other applications, to be a non-invasive system that has required little to no modification to chassis, body, instrument panel, etc. In addition, the system does not intrude on, nor require any alteration to the Engine Control/Communication system, thus avoiding any emissions certification issues. The system monitors, but does not impact anything that within the existing engine.
“Our unique Post Transmission System offers customers a non-invasive solution to enter the Hybrid Vehicle Market in either the retrofit or new vehicle segment. Being the only supplier of this technology offers us and our customers a tremendous competitive advantage” stated Mike Staran, Enova’s Vice President of Marketing.
The bus market in which IC Corporation plans to compete is approximately 18,000 units annually. The market can be broken into 2 primary segments - public and private. There is an estimated 60/40 split in favor of the public buyers. It is now estimated that 30% of the buses purchased for public transit are some form of hybrid/alternate fuel vehicles and analysts project this number to grow significantly over the next 5 years.
This is the third major hybrid bus announcement from IC Corporation and Enova this year. In July, the company unveiled the nation’s first hybrid school bus at a school bus industry show in New York. In August, IC Corporation was awarded a competitive bid to provide 19 hybrid school buses to 11 states. All of IC Corporation’s hybrid buses integrate Enova's non-invasive Hybrid System and have shown significant improvements in performance, fuel economy and emissions reductions.
“Hybrid buses provide distinct advantages. Reduced fuel consumption and lowered emissions, makes for an environmentally friendly solution. Perhaps even more important, the significant increase in fuel efficiency can dramatically improve the profitability of many businesses” says Ed Riddell, President and CEO of Enova.
About IC Corporation
IC Corporation, the nation’s largest integrated school bus and commercial bus manufacturer, is an affiliate of International Truck and Engine Corporation. International produces school bus chassis, mid-range diesel engines, medium trucks, heavy trucks, severe service vehicles, and is a provider of parts and service sold under the International brand. Both IC and International are affiliates of Navistar International Corporation . Additional information is available site at: www.ic-corp.com.
About Enova:
Enova Systems (http://www.enovasystems.com) is a leading supplier of efficient, environmentally friendly digital power components and systems products. The Company’s core competencies are focused on the development and commercialization of power management and conversion systems for mobile applications. Enova applies unique ‘enabling technologies’ in the areas of alternative energy propulsion systems for light and heavy-duty vehicles as well as power conditioning and management systems for distributed generation systems. The Company develops, designs and produces non-invasive drive systems and related components for electric, hybrid-electric, and fuel cell powered vehicles in both the “new” and “retrofit” vehicle sales market. For further information, contact Enova Systems directly, or visit its Web site at http://www.enovasystems.com.