SAN DIEGO, Calif. — U.S.-based Clean Air Partners, Inc. and T. Baden Hardstaff announced the next phase in the development of the Dual-Fuel truck project.

During the initial phase of the project, 100 Dual-Fuel truck orders were secured by the CAP-Hardstaff joint venture. The venture will now separate and Clean Air will establish new production premises to accommodate larger volumes. Effective immediately, based on the Foden diesel chassis, Clean Air Partners will offer Dual-Fuel powered trucks and conversions complying with Euro IV, the October 2005 emission level.

CAP-Hardstaff customers will continue to be supported by the joint venture from Nottingham until Clean Air’s new facilities in the Midlands area of Great Britain are commissioned. From then on, Clean Air will support all Dual-Fuel products in the UK through a selection of Foden dealers for sales and service enabling more regionally based product support. T. Baden Hardstaff, which operates a haulage fleet including a large number of Dual-Fuel vehicles, supply exhaust and other subassemblies and will provide support to Clean Air Partners’ new operation.

CAP-Hardstaff, a joint venture between the San Diego and Nottingham companies, was formed in 2002 to launch Clean Air’s Dual-Fuel technology into the UK heavy goods vehicle market.

"Without the significant efforts that they have made we would not be where we are today," said Clean Air Partners’ CEO Dan Kabel.

In response, Hardstaff’s managing director, Trevor Fletcher, expressed admiration for Clean Air Partners, stating, without Clean Air’s Dual-Fuel technology there would have been no product for the UK to make these strides.

"Foden and its dealer network welcomes this new initiative. Dual Fuel has created a great cost saving opportunity for UK haulers and the Joint Venture has been very successful overcoming the emissions legislation challenges to secure financial support for operators from the UK Government. The new facilities will further raise the level of service available to Foden customers," said Gary Rowlands, Foden’s general marketing manager, Gary Rowlands.