IMPCO Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: IMCO) announced that they are working with major Chinese OEM Diesel Engine manufacturers to expand sales of their alternate fuel products in China. With China’s population surpassing 1.2 billion, reducing air pollution in large Chinese cities caused by diesel trucks and buses is the major objective.

Dr. Loren Gettel, Director of IMPCO’s Heavy Duty Fuel Systems division, located in Seattle, Washington said, “ We have been working with four of the largest engine manufacturers in China including the Jinan Diesel Engine Works, Shengli Power Machine Factory, Wuxe Diesel Engine Works, and Yulin Diesel Works. All of these major Chinese heavy-duty engine manufacturers have programs to develop spark ignition alternate fuel versions of their most popular diesel engines.”

IMPCO has been supplying fuel system technology to allow these engines to operate efficiently and with minimum emissions. Jinan, Shengli, and Wuxe have been concentrating on a spark ignition engine based on the Cummins 5.9 liter diesel engine. A natural gas or LPG version of this engine is ideally suited for medium size buses and trucks. IMPCO has also been working with Yulin to develop a 7.8 L turbocharged LPG bus engine. A demonstration bus is currently operating and the preliminary results are most encouraging. Production of this low emission bus is planned to start in 2001 with initial volume planned for six hundred buses. The buses will enter service in Beijing and Tanjin.

“China is on the cutting edge using alternate fuels as a means of reducing exhaust emission, dependency on imported oil and lowering transportation costs. China is among the first countries to look into the future and see where alternate fuels can lead them. As the population continues to rise past 1.2 billion people, the market potential becomes enormous” Dr. Gettel added.

IMPCO Technologies, Inc.

IMPCO Technologies, Inc.

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