NEW
HUDSON, Mich. – Icom North America, the leading
innovator, developer and manufacturer of liquid injection propane systems for
commercial and consumer vehicles, has attained the first U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency approval for its Liquid Injection Propane bi-fuel systems for
the Ford 6.8 liter engines, produced for Ford Econoline vans.
Ralph Perpetuini, CEO of Icom North America, said his company was given the
green light by the EPA to convert applicable Ford 6.8 liter gasoline engines
for E-250, E-350 and E-450 platforms covering model years 2010 and 2011 for
propane and gasoline (or bi-fuel) use. Most end users of this technology
will be commercial fleets of ambulances, shuttle buses, flatbeds, cutaways and
cargo vehicles.
“This is the first time the EPA has certified a bi-fuel engine system using
liquid propane injection,” Perpetuini noted. “We believe propane is the
most energy-efficient and practical alternative fuel currently
available.”
"Coupled with gasoline in a bi-fuel engine, propane gives fleet owners the
option of refueling with either fuel, providing extended range,” he said.
“This is ideal for the fleet user who has numerous delivery vehicles, including
those with small fleets at many locations.”
Since 2004, Icom North America has been supplying its patented JTG
liquid-injection propane mono-fuel systems to leading bus, truck and commercial
vehicle manufacturers in the U.S.
Perpetuini said Icom will add 8-10 new positions later this year at its
manufacturing facility in New Hudson, Mich., where the company already has
begun production of the EPA-certified bi-fuel conversion system for existing customers.
Albert
Venezio, chairman of Icom North America noted: “The patented Icom JTG approach
is revolutionary. It injects liquid propane (not vapor) through an actual
injector in the vehicle’s manifold. The vehicle’s OEM powertrain control
module (or ‘brain’) directly controls our system, eliminating the need for
additional computer mapping. Installation is fast and simple,” he said.
Currently, propane fuel
is used primarily on commercial vehicles. But Icom’s proprietary
vehicle-conversion systems can be used on any gasoline fuel-injected car or
truck, including taxis, police vehicles, or passenger cars. Icom’s
patented JTG liquid-propane injection application is a fully-integrated,
mono-fuel or bi-fuel engine system designed in harmony with OEM gasoline
engines.
“When utilizing the Icom JTG system, drivability, performance and torque
are equal to or better than gasoline,” Venezio said.
Mike
Stone, Icom’s vehicle technical manager noted: “Our emission results were excellent
and the Icom JTG system required no powertrain control module
calibrations. We are the first system certified to do so.”
As gasoline increases in
price, propane continues to have a cost advantage, with more than 90 percent of
the nation’s propane coming from U.S. and Canadian sources, further reducing
dependence on foreign oil. In certain U.S. states, fleet owners benefit
from tax credits or rebates as well.
More than 120,000
vehicles worldwide have utilized the Icom JTG Propane System since 2004.
EPA certifications for
the E-series Ford engines paves the way for additional commercial fleet users
to consider bi-fuel applications as an ideal way to power vehicles used for
long distances.
Icom
is expecting additional EPA certifications for popular fleet vehicles in 2011.
About Icom North America,
LLC
Icom North America, LLC, founded in 2004, is a U.S.-based company which
designs, develops, manufactures, certifies and integrates the patented Icom JTG
Liquid Injection Propane system and additional Icom products. They include the
patented Icom toroidal and cylindrical propane tank for commercial and
passenger OEM as well as aftermarket vehicles in North America and selected
other markets. All products utilize a high U.S. content. North American
headquarters are in New Hudson, Michigan. Further information is
available at: www.icomnorthamerica.com.
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