$499,974 State Grant Supports Application Of Eaton’s Hydraulic Launch Assist
Technology To Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Texas Shuttle Bus Fleet

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. … Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation’s fuel-saving Hydraulic Launch Assist ™ (HLA) technology will be used on a south Texas fleet of urban shuttle busses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The shuttle bus emissions initiative was made possible by a $499,974 New Technology Research and Development (NTRD) Grant awarded by the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC). The grant, announced by HARC Program Director Rudy Smaling, builds on a highly successful 2006 project in which Eaton’s HLA systems were installed on 12 refuse trucks under a State of Texas New Technology Research and Development Grant.

“This is an important technology,” Smaling said. “It cuts exhaust emissions and fuel costs, making it possible for both operators and the environment to come out ahead. The refuse trucks delivered fuel savings of 25 to 28 percent, and we fully expect similar savings from the shuttle bus application. Eaton is a leader in developing and applying hybrid technologies that cut greenhouse gas emissions, as well as those of nitrous oxide.”

“We collaborated with HARC on the refuse truck project and look forward to building on that experience in rolling out HLA technology into the shuttle bus market,” said Bradley Bohlmann, business development manager for Eaton Fluid Power Group’s Advanced Technology Team. “HARC is a very forward-looking organization, and we could not ask for a better collaborator for the expansion of the HLA system and follow-on emission-reducing technologies.”

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Eaton’s HLA system is a regenerative braking system that captures and stores the vehicle’s kinetic energy rather than dissipating it as heat. Braking energy is stored in pressurized accumulators and then used to help accelerate the vehicle. The HLA system is an ideal hybrid technology for vehicles with duty cycles including many starts and stops because it efficiently captures and re-cycles energy using relatively simple, highly-durable components that are easily integrated into conventional drivetrains.

Eaton’s Hydraulics Operation is a business segment of the Eaton Fluid Power Group. The business is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of a comprehensive line of reliable, high-efficiency hydraulic systems and components for use in mobile and industrial applications. Mobile and industrial markets include agriculture, construction, mining, forestry, utility, material handling, earthmoving, truck and bus, machine tools, molding, primary metals, automotive, power generation, port machinery and entertainment. Eaton’s Hydraulics Operation provides customer-driven solutions under brand names such as Aeroquip^®, Boston^®, Char-Lynn^®, Eaton^®, Hydro-Line^®, Synflex^®, Vickers^®, Walterscheid™, and Weatherhead^®. For more information, visit www.hydraulics.eaton.com.

Eaton Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturer with 2007 sales of $13.0 billion. Eaton is a global leader in electrical systems and components for power quality, distribution and control; hydraulics components, systems and services for industrial and mobile equipment; hydraulics, fuel and pneumatic systems for commercial and military aircraft; intelligent truck drivetrain systems for safety and fuel economy; and automotive engine air management systems, powertrain solutions and specialty controls for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has 79,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com.

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