Exclusive Unveiling Event at NextEnergy in Detroit
September 25, 2008 marked the formal public unveiling and debut of
Fisher Coachworks' fuel efficient, ultra
lightweight, plug-in series hybrid transit bus, the Fisher GTB-40.
At the debut event held at NextEnergy in Detroit, Michigan, a group of
about 100 company investors and project supporters received comments and
endorsements from NextEnergy, the Department of Energy and Oak Ridge
National Laboratory. Following this, Greg Fisher, CEO & Co-Founder of
Fisher Coachworks, provided remarks on the company's
mission and launch status. Capping off these heartfelt speeches, the
crowd then gathered on the steps of NextEnergy as the first bay door
opened; then to a warm round of applause, out rolled the glistening
Fisher GTB-40.
Greg Fisher and Bruce Emmons, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder,
promptly boarded the bus for its inaugural public drive. Griffin Burgh,
Chief Operating Officer for Fisher Coachworks described the scene. "The
GTB-40 took several silent laps around the NextEnergy facility, then
came to a stop at the base of the front stairs so the group could board
and experience the bus firsthand. What a night for Greg, Bruce and the
entire Fisher Coachworks family!"
"The Department of Energy is extremely proud
to be at this event," said Lee Slezak, Manager
Advanced Vehicles Simulation & Evaluation, Office of Vehicle
Technologies, US Department of Energy. "It is
not often that we get to witness the successful commercialization of a
technology that we have funded and nurtured. The GTB-40 Bus was designed
to be technically superior to current buses in the market, and marrying
this with the Fisher Coachworks brand, we see an excellent match that
will ensure its market success."
Phil Sklad, Field Technical Manager, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, US
Department of Energy commented, "Working with
Bruce Emmons (Fisher Coachworks CTO) and his team for the past ten years
has been rewarding. The program was challenging; but staying true to
their vision, Bruce and his coworkers employed a clean sheet of paper
approach to successfully explore and overcome many technical unknowns.
However, had it not been for the foresight, vision and perseverance of
DOE's late Dr. Sid Diamond, this project
would not have been possible. Dr. Diamond would be proud of what Bruce
Emmons and the Fisher Coachworks team have accomplished, and will
accomplish, as this product successfully changes the transit industry's
bus design, styling and efficiency paradigm."
About Fisher Coachworks, LLC
Fisher Coachworks was formed in 2007 to manufacture advanced hybrids
using a patented ultra-lightweight stainless steel unibody structural
system and low-cost fabrication process. The company's
launch product is the GTB-40 PHEV Transit Bus which began road testing
in Summer 2008. By applying a total vehicle optimization engineering
approach, Fisher Coachworks is able to significantly reduce vehicle
mass, and as a result, achieve step-change improvements in fuel economy,
emissions and operating cost efficiency. Currently based in Troy,
Michigan, the company will soon be relocating to a larger manufacturing
facility to prepare for ramped vehicle production beginning in 2009.
For more information about Fisher Coachworks please contact:
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John VanAlstyne
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VP Marketing
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Fisher Coachworks LLC
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1150 Stephenson Highway
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Troy, Michigan 48083
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313-483-3700 x7702
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jvanalstyne@fishercoach.com
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www.fishercoachworks.com
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Fisher Coachworks
John VanAlstyne, VP Marketing, 313-483-3700 x7702
jvanalstyne@fishercoach.com