New Clean Diesel Technology Pilot Study

Pilot Study to road test the FreedomAir low emission engine technology developed by Rotec Design Ltd. of Brisbane, Australia.

News Release

Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Thu, Jan. 30 , 2003:

Windsor City Councillor Peter Carlesimo, Chair of Transit Windsor, today announced that the municipal bus operator will initiate a three year Pilot Study to road test the FreedomAir low emission engine technology developed by Rotec Design Ltd. of Brisbane, Australia. The Pilot Study will be independently monitored by researchers from the University of Windsor Faculty of Engineering.

"Transit Windsor, as a responsible corporate citizen, has pioneered in looking into ways of reducing emissions from bus exhausts. We maintain our vehicles at a high level of operating efficiency and we are pleased to be able to cooperate with Rotec in road testing their technology which has a great deal of promise for reducing greenhouse gas emissions."

Rotec officials at the announcement included company chairman, and former Premier of the State of Queensldand, Australia, the Hon. Robert Borbidge as well as company director Trevour Bourne and managing director and developer of the technology Robert Rutherford.

"We are pleased, Borbidge said, "with the welcome we have received here in Windsor. The people at Transit Windsor and the University of Windsor have both been very helpful and cooperative in working with us to arrange the Pilot Study. Mayor Hurst himself has shown great interest in what we are doing."
University of Windsor involvement in the project has been spearheaded by Dr. Graham Reader, the Dean of Engineering, and Dr. Robert Gaspar, Head of the Department of Mechanical, Materials & Automotive Engineering.

"The University of Windsors Faculty of Engineering is very excited to support this project," says Dr. Graham Reader, Dean of Engineering, "As Canadas leading university in automotive related research, we are well prepared to contribute to its success."

The University of Windsor has five automotive related Industrial Research Chairs and several professors conducting leading edge research in such areas as mechanical design, alternate fuels, and applications for emerging materials. Our role will involve establishing research teams of professors and graduate students to work with Rotec and Transit Windsor to tackle specific issues pertaining to this technology as it develops.

Rotec Design Ltd is an Australian company based in Brisbane that has been developing low emission engine technology since 1993. Prototype tests indicate that the FreedomAir technology can simultaneously provide "at source" reductions of NOx and PM emissions by 60% and 70% respectively. FreedomAir can also provide torque output increases over 75%.

The FreedomAir technology has been patented and the Transit Windsor trial will introduce the technology to North America as part of Rotecs planned US EPA Verification Program.

Transit Windsor operates a fleet of 100 diesel-powered buses. Clean and efficient operation is paramount to the city-owned bus service. The Rotec technology holds great promise for assisting Transit Windsor to meet its objectives of reliable vehicle operation with minimal emissions.

Mayor Michael Hurst commented, "With Canadas declared commitment to the Kyoto accord, the Transit Windsor Pilot Study is a strong signal that the Windsor community is once again showing itself to be a pioneer in environmental initiatives. This technology, when fully implemented, has great promise to have a significant positive impact on the reduction of greenhouse gases in our local air. The application of the technology in diesel powered trucks will add even more benefit."

Contact

Rotec:
Mark Stefl
Phone 248-449-3108

Transit Windsor
Jan ONeil
Phone (519) 944 4141 x224

University of Windsor
Marilyn Hood / John Carrington
Phone (519) 253 3000