IMPCO Technologies Inc. today announced the commercialization of its Eclipse Heavy Duty Engine Management System which enables the use of clean burning natural gas and propane in diesel powered engines. Commercialization of the "Eclipse" system is the culmination of an extensive research and product development effort by IMPCO encompassing over 10 years and $20 million dollars of investment.
Product validation and field testing over the past three years has shown that harmful exhaust emissions such as smog forming nitrous oxide, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxides were reduce by more than 85% over diesel powered engines and that carcinogen causing particular matter was virtually eliminated.
Mike Laplante, Director of Sales/Marketing said, "Field testing on a fleet of over 150 Eclipse equipped, heavy duty trucks has accumulated 5 million miles and has shown the same fuel economy with equivalent power as compared to running the same fleet of trucks on diesel fuel. Each truck saved over $28,000 per year in fuel costs by using natural gas."
Natural gas worldwide is 40-60% less than diesel fuel.
Laplante said that four large fleets using the Eclipse system in Europe and Asia will be commercialized over the next six months with annualized sales exceeding $20 million. IMPCO projects that the Eclipse product line will generate over $40 million in annual sales in five years.
Diesel fueled vehicles are under increasing pressure in all world markets to run 50% cleaner to meet 2007 requirements in the U.S. and Europe. In India for example, use of diesel powered engines is being curtailed by government enforcement in favor of CNG. In the U.S. the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated 11 million in-use diesels need to be retrofitted or replaced in the next 10 years to meet emission standards.