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Clean Fueled Bus to Be Manufactured in Rhode Island

29 September 1997

Clean Fueled Bus to Be Manufactured in Rhode Island

    WARREN, R.I., Sept. 29 -- Senator John Chafee joined the
Northeast Alternative Vehicle Consortium's Executive Director, Sheila Lynch,
TPI's President, Everett Pearson, and Rhode Island Public Transit Authority's
General Manager, Dr. Beverly Scott today to announce a federal grant to
manufacture clean fueled buses in Rhode Island. The announcement took place at
TPI Inc. corporate headquarters in Warren, Rhode Island.
    TPI Inc. will manufacture a lightweight, clean-fueled bus that is expected
to burn 75 percent less fuel and emit significantly fewer emissions than its
current diesel counterpart.  Using lightweight composite manufacturing
techniques, TPI will build one demonstration bus that will be powered by an
advance hybrid-electric drive system.  The project promises to be a source of
economic development and environmental benefits for Rhode Island, the region,
and the nation.
    Senator John Chafee, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Environment
and Public Works, applauded the project.  "TPI has found a way to dramatically
improve the manufacture of buses that will save fuel, help reduce emissions
harmful to the environment, and create jobs in Rhode Island," Chafee said.
"The federal government is providing half of the costs to pay for development
of the first prototype bus."
    Everett Pearson, CEO of TPI Inc. showed off the design and sketches for
the 29' all composite hybrid electric bus and a body for a 40' bus.  "This is
the first bus ever to be manufactured in Rhode Island."  TPI, a world leader
in the composite manufacture of sailing boats, expects to deliver its first
bus to Logan Airport in Boston for testing, with future buses to be sold to
transit operators.  The buses are scheduled to be delivered during the second
quarter of 1998.  TPI expects to offer the bus for sale in the near future at
a price that is competitive with its diesel counterpart.
    The bus design unveiled today is a 29' medium duty bus that features an
ADA-compliant low-floor design.  The vehicle uses a low emission hybrid
electric propulsion system with a bi-fuel (CNG or diesel) engine.  The body
and chassis are made from light weight composite materials featuring a
monocoque sandwich structure produced with a vacuum assisted liquid resin
infusion molding process.  TPI's proprietary resin infusion process is ideally
suited for building large structures.  Over the past five years, TPI has
successfully demonstrated its process on a variety of ground transportation
products such as people movers and electric car bodies.  TPI is also working
on a 40' design.
    The good news for transit operators is that this design will save them
money.  "We expect considerable savings in both fuel and life of the body and
chassis due to the advantages of composite materials," said Dr. Beverly Scott,
General Manager of Rhode Island Public Transit Authority.
    The Northeast Alternative Vehicle Consortium's Executive Director
Sheila Lynch said: "This project demonstrates that job creation and
environmental protection can go hand in hand."  The NAVC sought out and will
administer the federal grant for TPI.  The funding is provided from the
Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

SOURCE  Northeast Alternative Vehicle Consortium