PEORIA, IL – On Nov. 20, 2006, Caterpillar Inc. received certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the company’s first engine equipped with ACERT Technology for 2007. This technology positions Caterpillar to meet future EPA emissions regulations and provides a long-term emissions solution for the global on-highway engine market.

The first EPA-certified Caterpillar engine with ACERT Technology is the C7, a popular choice with customers who operate medium-duty vocational and delivery trucks. It will be in full production by Jan. 1, 2007. The C7 is also widely used in a variety of other medium-duty applications, including school buses, emergency vehicles, and recreational vehicles.

ACERT Technology relies on four basic systems to lower emissions air management, precision combustion, advanced electronics, and effective aftertreatment. These four systems work to decrease particulate matter, oxides of nitrogen, and hydrocarbon emissions while preserving the engine’s reliability and durability, which keep owning and operating costs low.