"The Path Forward: Technologies Solutions for Changing Times" is the title of the fourth annual Clean Heavy Duty Vehicles Conference, scheduled Feb. 25-27, 2004 in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

What new technologies and fuels are coming for heavy-duty vehicles? How much will they reduce emissions and fuel use? And how much might they cost? Reflecting the rapid change and growing concern over emission technology choices, industry support for this conference has tripled over the last year, setting the tone for the biggest conference yet.
Organized by WestStart-CALSTART and the U.S. Army's National Automotive Center (NAC), the conference provides a unique look across all heavy duty vehicle technologies, fuels and solutions, not just one.
The updated agenda found at www.weststart.org is a who's who of the heavy duty industry.
Industry and government support is represented by sponsors that include the NAC, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), South Coast Air Quality Management District, AVL Powertrain Engineering, California Air Resources Board, California Energy Commission, Caterpillar, Engineered Machine Products (EMP), Integrated Concepts Research Corp. (ICRC), Mack Trucks and Engines, Mark IV Automotive, Michelin North America, Oshkosh Truck and Trillium USA.
"We are very pleased with the significant increase in industry support for this conference, which is the best annual collection of the top leaders in clean, heavy duty vehicles -- across all technologies and all fuels," said John Boesel, president CEO of WestStart-CALSTART. "Single-topic conferences provide good information in one area -- but this is the only conference that provides users and the industry with a more complete view of the full range of clean solutions coming forward. The industry is supporting it."
Conference sessions will tackle the full range of coming solutions, from idle management to fuel cell propulsion to hybrids to new fuel formulations and after-treatment. Recently added to the agenda are experts from the Fuel Cell Propulsion Institute, the Paccar Technical Center and Argonne National Lab. They join colleagues representing both traditional and advanced technologies.
At a special kick-off session the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 25, hosted by Alan Lloyd, chairman of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), truck engine makers will engage in a roundtable discussion about responding to current government requirements.
At lunch the next day, Charles Gray, director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Advanced Technology Division will discuss what's on the horizon.
Among the highlights from this year's program:

-- Updates from the nation's leading truck and engine OEMs on latest technologies
-- Strategies for off-road vehicles to deal with proposed new regulations
-- Briefings on hybrid, natural gas, and fuel cell technologies
-- Discussions on availability of cleaner fuels and state of the infrastructure
-- Reports on in-use fleet experiences with alternative fuel vehicles

Attendees also will be able to view the latest clean technologies and vehicles at the expanded conference exhibit site, featuring products from Caterpillar, Detroit Diesel, ISE Research, Mack Trucks, Michelin North America, Trillium, International Truck, SunLine Transit, Georgetown University, Delco Remy, and British Petroleum. Sponsorship and exhibit opportunities are still available. Contact Susan Romeo at 626-744-5600 or sromeo@calstart.org.
WestStart-CALSTART is an advanced transportation technologies consortium. It is a fuel neutral, participant-supported organization of more than 115 companies and agencies, dedicated to expanding and supporting a high-tech transportation industry that cleans the air, creates jobs and improves energy efficiency. WestStart-CALSTART is playing a leading national role in facilitating the development of advanced propulsion systems and alternative fuels in the transit and heavy-duty vehicle industry.