PASADENA, CA – The Clean Heavy Duty Vehicle Conference 2006: Clean Technologies and Fuels - Are We There Yet? two-day seminar, held Feb. 22-24, 2006, at the Hilton San Diego Resort, will address the move to a cleaner, more fuel efficient and secure transportation energy future. Issues will include climate change and its economic and environmental impacts and regulatory pressures on the heavy-duty vehicle industry, fuel providers, and heavy-duty vehicle users. A limited block of rooms at $179 per night has been reserved at the Hilton San Diego Resort for use by conference attendees. Cut off date for this block of rooms is Jan. 30, 2006, after which rooms become available on a first come, first serve basis. Attendees are responsible for making their own hotel reservations. Call the hotel at the number listed below, and mention you are with the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Conference 2006 to receive the discounted room rate.

Hilton San Diego Resort
1775 E. Mission Bay Drive
San Diego, CA 92109

Reservation number: (800) HILTONS (800-445-8667)
Tel: (619) 276-4010; Fax: (619) 275-8996

Early registration: $400 (by January 13, 2006.)
Late registration: $500 (after January 13, 2006.)
On-site: $550 (February 22-24, 2006)
Government/non-profit organizations: $400
Speakers and spouses: $150 (meals and receptions only.)
Exhibit booth workers: $200 (meals and receptions only.)
Students with ID: $100

WestStart Non-participants:
Early registration: $500 (by January 13, 2006.)
Late registration: $575 (after January 13, 2006.)
On-site: $625 (February 22-24, 2006.)

Registration fee does not include optional tour expenses. For more information on becoming a WestStart participant, visit: www.weststart.org. For questions, call: (626) 744-5600.

Conference Schedule:

Wed., Feb. 22

4-8 pm: Registration.
6-8 pm: Evening reception and exhibit viewing.

Thurs., Feb. 23

7-10 am: Registration.
7-8 am: Breakfast.
8-8:15 am: Welcoming remarks: Paul Skalny, associate director, U.S. Army National Automotive Center.
8:15- 9 am: Opening speaker: Matthew Simmons, president, Simmons & Company International (invited).
9-10:30 am: Energy Challenges for Transportation.
Moderator: John Boesel, President and CEO, WestStart.

• John Boesel, President and CEO, WestStart.
  

• Major General Roger Nadeau, commanding general, SOSI, U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (invited).
  

• Dr. Robert Hirsch, senior energy program advisor, SAIC.
  

• Michael Walsh, international transportation consultant.
  

• Drew Kodjak, executive director, International Council on Clean Transportation.
  

• Susan Holte, technical assistant to the director, U.S. Energy Information Agency.
  10:30-11 am: Break/exhibit viewing.
  11-12:15 pm: Hybrid Commercialization: Eliminating the Barriers Roundtable.
  Moderator: Bill Van Amburg, executive vice president, WestStart.
  

• Merrilyn Zaw-Mon, director, transportation/regional programs, U.S. EPA.
  

• Brad Bohlman, business development manager, advanced technology, Eaton Corp.
  

• Ed Greif, vice president, Intelligent Hydraulic Drive Products, Dana Corp.
  

• Serge Viola, director, national fleet, Purolator Courier.
  12:15-1:45 pm: Luncheon and Keynote Speaker: Margo Oge, director, Office of Transportation and Air Quality U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
  1:45-2:15 pm: Exhibit viewing.
  2:15-3:30 pm: Buses: Advanced Technologies and Fleet Experience Roundtable
  

• Growth in hybrids and natural gas propulsion continues at an astonishing pace in bus transit. However, the success has not been without significant cost and challenges. This session is devoted to "war stories from the clean propulsion front": practical issues fleets will face and pitfalls to avoid.
  Moderator: Steve Hirano, associate publisher/editor, METRO magazine.
  

• Jim Boon, King County Metro, Seattle.
  

• Dr. Nigel Clark, director, Research Center for Alternative Fuels, Engines, and Emissions, West Virginia University.
  

• Jim Ditch, director of maintenance, Long Beach Transit.
  

• Gary LaBouff, director, vehicle engineering, New York City Transit.
  

• Michael Melanaphy, vice president, government sales, MCI.
  

• Barbara Sisson, associate administrator, research, demonstration, and innovation, Federal Transit Administration.
  

• Lurae Stuart, Senior Program Manager-Bus Programs, American Public Transit Association.
  3:30-4:45 pm: Moving to a More Electric Truck: On-Board Idling Technologies.
  Moderator: Alan Montemayor, principal engineer, Southwest Research Institute.
  

• Alan Montemayor, principal engineer, Southwest Research Institute.
  

• David Orr, MorElectric System commercial manager, Caterpillar Inc.
  

• Mike Beauchamp, Manager Tractor Engineering, Schneider National.
  4:45-5 pm: Break/exhibit viewing.
  5- 6:15 pm: Clean Technologies and Fuels: Commercialization and Demonstrations
  Moderator: Todd Reppert, advanced engineering, Volvo Powertrain.
  

• Todd Reppert, advanced engineering, Volvo Powertrain.
  

• Dr. Robert Kanter, director, planning, environmental affair, Port of Long Beach.
  

• Frank Donnelly, chief technology officer, RailPower Technologies.
  6:30-8 pm: Thursday Evening Sea World Reception.

  Fri., Feb. 24

  8-8:45 am: Opening speaker: JJ Brown, legislative aide, U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (invited).
  8:45-10:15 am: 2007/2010 Implementation Challenges: An Engine OEM Roundtable.
  Moderator: Scott Sturgess, executive editor, Heavy Duty Trucking Magazine.
  

• Rakesh Aneja, manager, advanced performance engineering, Detroit Diesel.
  

• Dr. Michael Gallagher, president, Westport Innovations.
  

• Tony Greszler, vice president, advanced engineering, Volvo Powertrain.
  

• Alan Karkkainen, director, future technologies, engine engineering, International Truck and Engine.
  10:15-10:30 am: Break/exhibit viewing.
  10:30-11:45 am: Clean Fuels: Meeting the Demand through Diversity and Supply.
  Moderator: William Harrison, senior advisor, Clean Fuel Initiative, Office of the Dep-uty Under Secretary of Defense.
  

• William Harrison, senior advisor, Clean Fuel Initiative, Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense.
  

• Michele Joy, general counsel, Association of Oil Pipe Lines.
  

• Ralph Cherrillo, fuel technology manager, Shell Gas & Power.
  

• Ray Schubert, project manager, transportation technology, TIAX.
  11:45 am-1 pm: Lunch/networking/exhibit viewing.
  1-3 pm: Diesel Engine Emissions Reduction Technologies.
  Moderator: Dr. Joseph Kubsh, deputy director, Manufacturers of Emission Controls Association.
  

• Dr. Joseph Kubsh, deputy director, Manufacturers of Emission Controls Association.
  

• Dr. Gary Rogers, president and CEO, FEV.
  

• Dr. Sougato Chatterjee, manager, application engineering, Johnson Matthey.
  

• Dr. Nigel Gale, vice president, engine emissions and vehicle research, South-west Research Institute.
  

• Ron Nunes, air resources engineer, California Air Resources Board.
  3 pm: Conference adjourns.

  Future Meetings:

  Bridging the Transition...Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines.
  

• A one-day WestStart-FTA symposium bringing together experts from the government, military, and private industry to share information about projects and innovative approaches for the use of hydrogen and hydrogen-blend fuels in internal combustion engines for light and heavy-duty vehicles.
  Date: Wed., Feb. 22, 2006.
  Time: 8 am to 4 pm.
  Registration Fee: (separate from Clean Heavy Duty Vehicle Conference fee.)
  $50 - if attending Clean Heavy Duty Vehicle Conference.
  $75 - if not attending the Clean Heavy Duty Vehicle Conference.
  

  For more information, contact Lawrence Wnuk, (626) 744.5600, lwnuk@weststart.org

  HTUF Fleets: Hybrid Truck "Phase 2" Order Pre-Commitment Meeting
  Date:Wed., Feb. 22, 2006: Invitation Only
  Time: 1- 5 pm.
  

• This half-day session launches the next phase of hybrid commercialization. Building off the hybrid utility truck success, the HTUF Utility Working Group, together with invited fleets with similarly sized trucks, will review interest in and develop pre-commitments for a "Phase 2" production order of hybrid work trucks. Fleets will review pre-production truck assessments, the production intent of key OEMs, and build a pre-commitment list of fleets who would consider purchasing hybrid trucks as part of a "phase 2" effort. The meeting’s goal is to present the industry with a strong users signal of commitment to production purchases.

  For more information, contact Bill Van Amburg, (626) 744-5600, bvanamburg@weststart.org.