TPI Composites To Build Next Generation All Composite Transit Bus
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Scottsdale, Ariz. (February 2, 2010) – TPI Composites, Inc. today announced that it has been selected to lead a congressionally-funded All Composite Transit Bus Program in conjunction with the National Automotive Center (NAC), the U.S. Army’s advanced vehicle research and development arm. The program’s purpose is to develop next generation vehicle technology that will help public transit buses across the U.S. improve fuel efficiency. The $2 million program was sponsored by Rhode Island Representative Patrick Kennedy and approved by Congress as part of the 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill signed into law by President Obama in December.
A heavy-duty, light-weight composite bus can give transit authorities the flexibility to increase fuel efficiency for conventional engines or easily carry clean propulsion and fuel systems including CNG, LNG and hybrid electric systems. Additional advantages of composite buses include reduced corrosion, reduced operations and maintenance costs and increased durability. These attributes can contribute to a “greener” U.S. public transit fleet. A decade ago, TPI Composites collaborated on a program that designed and prototyped the first all composite U.S. transit bus. Since that time, hundreds of composite buses have been placed into service in cities such as Los Angeles and Phoenix. This new program is expected to build upon past technical successes to create a next generation transit bus.
“TPI has a history of developing composite vehicles, including buses. We are pleased to apply our composite technology to the advancement of a lighter, cleaner more fuel efficient public transit bus,” said TPI Composites President and CEO Steve Lockard. “The goal of this program will be to create a composite bus that can be integrated into public transit fleets around the country.”
About TPI Composites, Inc.
TPI Composites is a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based leading blade supplier to the rapidly expanding wind energy industry. TPI delivers high-quality, cost effective composite solutions through long term partnerships with the industry’s leading manufacturers including GE Energy and Mitsubishi Power Systems. The company is also an innovator in the transportation and military vehicle markets. TPI operates factories throughout the U.S., Mexico and China. For more information on TPI, go to www.tpicomposites.com.