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ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – (August 20, 2010) – Navistar, Inc.’s eStar™ all-electric truck will make its Wisconsin debut as the presenting sponsor for this weekend’s American LeMans Series (ALMS) race in Elkhart Lake, Wis.
“Sponsoring the exciting American LeMans Series is a great opportunity to showcase the eStar all-electric truck,” said Mark Aubry, eStar’s vice president, sales and marketing. “As a racing series, the American LeMans Series has been a leader in its adoption and support of ‘green’ and technology enhanced vehicles.”
The eStar all-electric truck will be on display at the race, offering fleet owners an intimate look at the vehicle’s innovation, design and technology against the thrilling backdrop of Le Mans-style racing. The eStar all-electric truck is the first commercial vehicle designed from the ground up to be battery-powered. Its lithium-ion battery system allows the eStar truck to travel up to 100 miles per charge and virtually eliminates traditional maintenance costs. The eStar can be fully recharged in about 6-8 hours or the quick-change cassette-type battery can be swapped out in less than 20 minutes, enabling around-the-clock operation.
About eStar
The versatile eStar all-electric truck is uniquely positioned in the Class 2c-3 commercial category, offering different body sizes and a two-ton payload capacity. The eStar truck is the first medium-duty commercial vehicle to receive U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification as a clean fuel fleet vehicle as well as California Air Resources Board (CARB) certification as a zero-emissions vehicle. With zero tailpipe emissions, an eStar truck can help eliminate 10 tons of CO2 emissions from the atmosphere.
Beyond its environmental benefits as an all-electric truck that doesn’t require diesel or gasoline, the eStar truck is a fun-to-drive, highly functional commercial truck allowing for quiet, comfortable operation. It has a distinctive design, set off by a sweeping, panoramic windshield and easy in-and-out access for drivers.
Unlike other electric trucks that are reconfigured models of fossil-fuel trucks, the eStar truck has been purpose-built for electric power, creating an advantage with a low center of gravity (the battery is between the frame rails, not mounted on top) and a 36-foot turning circle. The eStar is engineered with superior aerodynamics, a walk-through cab and a quick-change cassette-type battery that can be swapped out in 20 minutes, enabling around-the-clock operation. It is capable of carrying payloads up to two tons.
“The all-electric eStar commercial truck is a groundbreaking product and Navistar is once again leading the way in bringing innovative, game-changing products to market,” Aubry added. “No other commercial electric vehicle competes with the eStar in terms of capacity, size and application. Customers will love the eStar because of its capabilities as an electric vehicle and won’t have to change their fleet usage in order to take advantage of the truck’s performance.”
ALMS Embraces Green Technology
In 2008, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in conjunction with SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) International declared that the American Le Mans Series, with all cars now racing several different types of alternative fuels, was the only race series to meet its criteria for green racing. It led to the creation of a Green Challenge™ award and trophy for both a prototype and Grand Touring class team that demonstrated the best overall performance, fuel efficiency and environmental impact during the race. The DOE is also working together with Navistar by administering a $39.2 million grant funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to develop and deploy eStar electric trucks.
Experience the Thrill of Le Mans Racing
Forget the oval. The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) brings the spectacle of competitive “road racing” to circuits across the United States. Patterned after France’s legendary 24-hour Le Mans, ALMS racing showcases precision driving skills and endurance. Sunday’s main race, slated to run from 2:05 p.m. to 4:50 p.m., will tackle the famed Road America racetrack, which still maintains its original 4.048-mile, 14-turn configuration featuring demanding curves and high-speed straight-aways.
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