Cross Country Run to 'Tour De Sol' Planned in Hybrid Electric Vehicle
3 May 2000
Cross Country Run to 'Tour De Sol' Planned in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Using Southern States Power Co. OXy G B-60 Biodiesel Fuel
SHREVEPORT, La., May 2 Southern States Power Company
(OTC Bulletin Board: SSPC) announced today it will be donating biodiesel fuel
to the Deer Valley High School ERAD Club (Environmentally Responsible Auto
Design) for use in a hybrid electric pick-up truck. The vehicle has been
entered in the famous "Tour De Sol" alternative fuel vehicle race that starts
in New York City on May 12-19th. The "Tour De Sol", which has been going on
for about a decade, draws hundreds of thousands of spectators and national and
international press coverage. The ERAD Club vehicle will set a new Tour De
Sol record by driving 2000 miles from Arizona to New York to participate in
the race. SSPC's OXy G B-60 will be used to power a diesel generator that
will recharge batteries in the hybrid electric drive system.
SSPC will be providing donations to both Deer Valley ERAD and Ronald
McDonald House in Phoenix, Arizona. In presenting the two donations, Harrison
A. McCoy III, Executive VP, noted, "ERAD is a dedicated team that has put
together a very innovative vehicle design that demonstrates both vehicle drive
technologies and an engine running on renewable biofuels."
SSPC's Biodiesel fuel OXy G B-60 has a higher cetane rating than petroleum
diesel with much lower levels of pollution and better power and performance
(see press release 4/25/00). OXy G B-60 is produced using recycled vegetable
oil or grease from deep fat fryers such as McDonalds as a feedstock for an
industrial refining process. The local Phoenix McDonald's has also agreed to
pitch in to the school alternative fuel vehicle project by providing
certificates for complementary meals at McDonalds to feed the students on the
road. The high school students will have available information about their
vehicle hybrid electric vehicle design and biodiesel fuel as they stop at
McDonalds restaurants across the country.
The high school team also plans to stop at lots of truck stops to spread
the word to the trucking community about Biodiesel. Dan Cartier, Mechanical
Systems Coordinator for the Deer Valley District, and one of the driving
forces (behind) in their implementation of their alternative fuel programs,
will join their team on their trip to New York. He noted, "Diesel operators
simply don't know of the advantages of Biodiesel. We will have information
available that details our vehicle design and provides information about
Biodiesel fuel. We are planning to pass out this information at every truck
stop we stop at along the way."
Harrison A. McCoy III, Executive VP of SSPC noted "Deer Valley Unified
School District and Deer Valley High School have taken a leading role in not
only teaching about alternative fuels through participation in national
alternative fuel race events but in demonstrating the viability of Biodiesel
as a fuel of choice for today's transportation system. SSPC is proud of the
School District and students of Deer Valley ERAD and wants to commend the
DVUSD for committing to use Biodiesel in 110 school buses operating in the
District."
Southern States Power Company is an energy resource company that entered
the alternative fuels market during fiscal year 1999 by commencing with the
development of a Biodiesel fuel division. Biodiesel fuel is a cleaner
burning, environmentally friendly alternative to diesel fuel that is produced
from renewable and recycled vegetable oils instead of petroleum.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that should not be
used to make an investment decision. Please refer to the SSPC web site
(http://www.sspowerco.com) and other sources for detailed information, or call
Michael Sealey at (318) 221-5703 or sspc@earthlink.net.