PEORIA, Ill. — Caterpillar has received 2004 EPA certification for it’s fourth on-highway truck and bus engine equipped with ACERT technology.

Caterpillar was the first engine manufacturer to offer engines certified to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s tougher 2004 standards, which require more stringent testing to demonstrate lower emissions over longer periods of engine operation.

The fourth EPA-certified Caterpillar engine with ACERT technology is the C13 engine, popular with general freight, or line-haul truck fleets that carry goods such as home appliances, building materials, and refrigerated foods. Offered in the 335 to 430 horsepower range, the C13 is also heavily used in tanker trucks that serve the oil, petroleum and agricultural industries. The C13 is also the customer engine of choice in sales of vocational-class trucks including dump trucks, refuse haulers and cement mixers.

“With the certification of this engine, we are another step closer to full certification of truck and bus engines with ACERT technology,” said Richard L. Thompson, Caterpillar group president with responsibility for the company’s engine division. “Caterpillar employees have worked very hard to bring this new technology to market. We are pleased to report that the introduction of this technology is fully on schedule and that customer acceptance of the new engines is very strong.”

Caterpillar is the first engine manufacturer to offer both medium and heavy-duty truck and bus engines that meet EPA’s more stringent 2004 emissions standards. Earlier this year, the Caterpillar C7 and C9 engines were certified for use in on-highway trucks, school buses and transit buses. With certification of the company’s C15 engine in March, Caterpillar became the first engine manufacturer to earn EPA 2004 certification of a heavy-duty on-highway truck engine.

ACERT is a differentiated, breakthrough technology that reduces emissions at the point of combustion. The technology capitalizes on Caterpillar’s proven leadership in engine electronics, fuel injection systems and combustion technology. All Caterpillar on-highway truck and bus engines will be equipped with ACERT technology in the fourth quarter of this year. The technology will also be used as the foundation to meet future emission regulations for the company’s entire diesel engine product line, including construction and mining machines, and power generation units.

For more information, visit http://www.cat.com