IKEA and TransPower Partner Together On Usage of Electric Yard Tractor – A Zero Emissions Vehicle
(September 24, 2014 – Conshohocken, PA) IKEA US and TransPower, an advanced clean energy technology company, have announced today they have partnered in the utilization of an electric yard tractor at the IKEA Tejon, Distribution Center. The TransPower tractor features the latest in battery-electric propulsion technologies for heavy-duty vehicles which helps to minimize CO2 emissions. This program will be the first long-term trial of an electric yard truck at any IKEA facility worldwide. The Tejon/Bakersfield facility has a 1.8 megawatt solar array on the roof, which will allow the facility to charge the battery with renewable electricity.
“IKEA US is pleased to be the first company to receive the TransPower vehicle. Using the new Electric yard tractor will minimize our CO2 emissions, while positively impacting our co-workers with less noise and truck vibrations. Additionally, this adds to our CO2 reduction strategy; replacing the diesel truck for an electric shunting truck for one year is equivalent to taking 8 cars off the road, “commented Jim Cavezza, IKEA DC Tejon Manager.
“Delivery of the IKEA tractor is the exciting culmination of a tremendous team effort which has transformed state of the art of electric vehicle technology,” said Mike Simon, CEO of TransPower. “We’re thrilled to have garnered the attention and funding of these agencies and look forward to future projects that will eventually lead to a new industry standard.”
The Electric Yard Tractor is the first of five tractors of this design that will be converted by TransPower by the end of 2014 for various California users. Funding for manufacturing the IKEA tractor was provided by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District under its Technology Advancement Program, but many other government agencies contributed funding for development of the advanced technologies it uses, including the California Air Resources Board, California Energy Commission, South Coast Air Quality Management District, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Contact: Mona A. Liss, IKEA Corporate PR Director ~ [email protected], 610.834.0180, ext.5852
About IKEA Group
The IKEA vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people. Our business idea supports this vision by offering a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them. There are currently 315 IKEA Group stores in 27 countries. Additionally, there are 40 IKEA stores run by franchises. There are 40 IKEA stores in the US. In FY 14, IKEA Group had 716 million visitors to the stores and 1.5 billion visitors to IKEA.com. IKEA incorporates sustainability into day-to-day business and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. For more information, please visit www.IKEA.com, facebook.com/IKEAUSA, @IKEAUSANews, @IKEAUSA, http://pinterest.com/IKEAUSA/, www.youtube.com/IKEAUSA, www.theshare-space.com, www.theshare-space.com/en/Blog
About TransPower
Transportation Power, Inc., doing business as TransPower, is a privately-held California company that develops and provides clean vehicle and stationary energy storage technologies and products. TransPower has developed a proprietary “ElecTruck™” integrated electric drive system for large trucks, tractors, and buses. TransPower has also developed the “Grid-Saver” fast energy storage system, designed to maximize commonality with TransPower’s electric vehicle products, including lithium battery modules, battery management systems, and energy management technology. In addition, TransPower is developing drive products using state of the art hybrid-electric and fuel cell hybrid propulsion systems.
For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.transpowerusa.com.
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