THOMAS BUILT BUSES SETS START OF PRODUCTION ON COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS-FUELED MINOTOUR
Company Delivers on Commitment to Robust Line of Alternative-powered Products
Contact: tracy.darchini@daimler.com
High Point, N.C. – Oct. 22, 2013 – Today Thomas Built Buses announced it will further expand its alternative-powered product offerings with the pilot production of a Minotour® school bus fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG). Pilot production starts now with the official production start set for early 2014.
The new Type A CNG Minotour, which will be converted by IMPCO Automotive, will utilize a GM 6-liter engine on the 4,500 series cutaway chassis. The 30-passenger bus will utilize Type 1 CNG tanks with a 26 gasoline-gallon equivalent fuel capacity. It will be CARB-certified and exceed EPA 2010 emissions requirements.
“We debuted our very first compressed natural gas bus over 20 years ago,” said Kelley Platt, president and CEO of Thomas Built Buses. “Since then, we’ve put more than 2,000 CNG buses on the road, and we are proud to add the new CNG-fueled Minotour to our family of alternative-fueled buses.”
Thomas Built’s green vehicle lineup also includes the propane-fueled Minotour and HDX CNG models. A propane-fueled offering of the innovative Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner C2 bus will be available in early 2014.
The CNG Minotour will be converted at the IMPCO Automotive Union City facility, an ISO 9001-2008 certified manufacturing facility which produces on average 3,000 – 5,000 vehicle conversions per year. IMPCO Automotive is a division of Fuel Systems Solutions, which is a publically traded company on the Nasdaq Stock Market Inc.
About Fuel Systems Solutions
Fuel Systems Solutions (Nasdaq: FSYS) is a leading designer, manufacturer, and supplier of proven, cost-effective alternative fuel components and systems for use in transportation and industrial applications. Fuel Systems’ components and systems control the pressure and flow of gaseous alternative fuels, such as propane and natural gas, used in internal combustion engines. These components and systems feature the company’s advanced fuel system technologies, which improve efficiency, enhance power output and reduce emissions by electronically sensing and regulating the proper proportion of fuel and air required by the internal combustion engine.
In addition to the components and systems, the company provides engineering and systems integration services to address unique customer requirements for performance, durability and configuration. Additional information is available at www.fuelsystemssolutions.com.
About Thomas Built Buses
Founded in 1916, Thomas Built Buses is a leading manufacturer of school buses in North America. Since the first Thomas Built bus rolled off the assembly line, the company has been committed to delivering the smartest and most innovative buses in North America. Learn more at www.thomasbus.com or at http://www.facebook.com/thomasbuiltbuses.
Thomas Built Buses, Inc., headquartered in High Point, N.C., is a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, the largest heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America and a leading manufacturer of class 4-8 vehicles. Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets commercial vehicles under the Freightliner, Western Star, and Thomas Built Buses nameplates. Daimler Trucks North America is a Daimler company.
