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Siemens hybrid buses part of Clinton Climate Initiative

11/02/2007

Atlanta, Nov. 1 -- Today at the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Seattle, former President Bill Clinton introduced Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. as a member of the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI), due to the company's ability to provide energy-efficient hybrid-drive systems in delivery trucks and city buses.

The C40 Transportation Program plans to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the world's largest cities. Siemens will work with vehicle manufacturers and municipal authorities to help existing and new transportation infrastructure operate more efficiently, consume less energy and emit less greenhouse gas. 

"Climate change is a global issue that we must address immediately if we are to reverse its catastrophic effects," said President Clinton. "I am pleased that the U.S. Conference of Mayors and many businesses are working with my foundation to supply energy-efficient and clean-energy products. By offering these products at a discounted rate, we can ensure that more cities and citizens have access to them and that the market for clean energy technology will grow. Together, I hope that we can have a measurable impact on greenhouse gas emissions around the world."

Vehicles currently account for 14 percent of global emissions. According to the Clinton Climate Initiative, "The C40 Transportation Program will provide cities with access to energy-efficient and money-saving transportation products and solutions.” SE&A has implemented thousands of energy-efficient drive solutions around the globe. By leveraging this experience, the program will be able to reduce fuel consumption by nearly 40 percent and significantly reduce emissions.

"At Siemens we recognize the impact that major cities and the vehicles within them have on climate change, which is why we are so honored to partner with the Clinton Climate Initiative,” says Dennis Sadlowski, President and CEO, Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. "Siemens, with its global reach and broad portfolio of environmentally friendly products and solutions is uniquely positioned to support the global nature of the program on a scale that matches the goals of the initiative. In the coming months, we will work closely with the Clinton Climate Initiative to help understand how Siemens can assist in creating results for the initiative and its programs.”

A hybrid drives system uses the combination of two different energy systems to reduce energy consumption and emissions. The flexibility of Siemens' ELFA modular and highly efficient hybrid drive systems allows the combination of nearly all common energy sources and storages. The ELFA system synchronizes the two power systems via its power electronics to optimize the energy flow, resulting in up to 40 percent less energy consumption and CO2 emission as well as quieter and more comfortable and reliable operation. Siemens supplies its ELFA systems to bus manufacturers, who install them into vehicles and sell the complete bus to the transportation authorities. In the last ten years, Siemens has installed over 1,000 systems in over 30 different projects around the globe.

Building on his long-term commitment to preserving the environment, President Clinton launched the Clinton Foundation's Climate Initiative in August 2006 with the mission of applying the foundation's business-oriented approach to the fight against climate change in practical, measurable, and significant ways. In its first phase, CCI is working with the C40 Large Cities Climate Leadership Group to accelerate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CCI team members have visited nearly all of these cities and are working with them to define projects and take action.

The C40 Large Cities Climate Leadership Group is comprised of the following cities: Addis Ababa, Bangkok, Beijing, Berlin, Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Caracas, Chicago, Delhi, Dhaka, Hanoi, Hong Kong, Houston, Istanbul, Jakarta, Johannesburg, Karachi, Lagos, Lima, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Manila, Melbourne, Mexico City, Moscow, Mumbai, New York, Paris, Philadelphia, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, Toronto, Tokyo, and Warsaw. For more information contact the Clinton Foundation Press Office: +1 212.348.0360 / press@clintonfoundation.org

Today's announcement further consolidates Siemens' commitment to the Clinton Climate Initiative's Large Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) – a group of the world's 40 most significant cities that have pledged to tackle climate change.  Siemens Building Technologies is already a member of the CCI's Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit Program, announced in May, 2007.