Emisstar Announces Award of Grant for Pluggable Hybrid Electric Terminal Tractor

AUSTIN, Texas, July 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Emisstar LLC announced today the award of a New Technology Research and Development grant from the State of Texas, totaling $722,000, for the development of a Pluggable Hybrid Electric Terminal Tractor (PHETT). Emisstar wrote the successful grant proposal for their client, Capacity of Texas. The competitive grant has been awarded to Capacity of Texas, in partnership with Alternative Motive Power Systems, LLC of Alexandria, Ohio, and Emisstar LLC.

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The project, funded by the State of Texas through a grant from the Texas Environmental Research Consortium and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, involves development of a modular hybrid electric terminal tractor that will improve fuel economy 60 to 70 percent while reducing emissions over 90 percent. Terminal tractors operate at ports, rail yards and other areas where air quality is often a concern.

Capacity of Texas will develop the PHETT's propulsion system with AMPS, whose proprietary control and power management systems make them an industry leader in green motive power. The PHETT will be capable of operating in either a generator set "charge-sustaining" hybrid mode or in a "zero-emissions" mode using grid power.

As part of the project, Emisstar will manage the on-board emission testing and performance validation to quantify the expected fuel economy improvements and criteria pollutant and greenhouse gas emission reductions.

"Emisstar is pleased to participate in this substantial grant with Capacity of Texas to develop a low-emissions, fuel-efficient terminal tractor for port, rail and drayage applications worldwide," remarked Emisstar Program Director, Kathi Harris. "Creating and facilitating energy and carbon efficient technologies and processes for commercial and industrial applications is at the core of our Sustainable Transportation practice."

Phillip Ford, President of Capacity of Texas, noted, "As a leader in the terminal tractor industry, we are pleased to receive the grant from the state of Texas to develop a Pluggable Hybrid Electric Terminal Tractor. The development of this product will reduce emissions at all Ports, Intermodal Yards and Warehousing/Distribution Centers not only in North America but also throughout the world. Capacity of Texas is dedicated to environmental stewardship by improving our product with the latest technology in electronic controls, ultra-clean combustion engines and overall green propulsion. Emisstar and AMPS are strategic partners in achieving those goals."

About Emisstar LLC

Emisstar provides consulting services focusing upon the scientific, technology, policy, business and public health challenges surrounding mobile air emissions. With offices in Texas, New York and New England, and now in California, Emisstar offers clients nationwide access to an extensive scope of services encompassing the energy and emissions arena. These services include assisting clients in understanding and reducing criteria pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions; providing state-of-the-art technical services enabling fleets to most effectively meet the requirements of complex energy and emissions regulations; using laboratory test facilities as well as portable emissions measurement systems and other measurement techniques to determine the effectiveness of energy and emissions remediation strategies; assisting freight carriers and logistics providers with sustainable transportation programs to reduce costs and improve their EPA SmartWay ranking; assisting and securing grant funding for a myriad of energy enhancement and emissions reduction programs; and developing strategic planning and market assessment programs enabling clients to best meet the challenges of an ever-evolving marketplace.

CONTACT: Kathi Harris of Emisstar LLC, +1-512-334-6230 or +1-512-589-7602, kathi.harris@emisstar.com

Web site: http://www.emisstar.com/

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