LINTHICUM, MD — Hydro Aluminum’s Extrusion Americas unit and Carbon Motors announced plans to collaborate on design work for the new Carbon E7 law enforcement vehicle.

The two companies are working together to identify and develop innovative ways to use extruded aluminum in the car’s frame and critical structural elements. Hydro will also supply extruded aluminum components when the car begins production.

The Carbon E7 represents the next generation of law enforcement technology. It is the first vehicle designed and engineered from the ground up specifically for law enforcement operations. The E7 debuted at the 2008 International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference in November.

"The Carbon E7 is another opportunity for Hydro to showcase its extrusion expertise in an application well suited for aluminum," said Lance Auyer, vice president for market development for Extrusion America’s transportation components unit. "Our experience shows that using extruded aluminum in automotive applications like this one reduces the overall weight of the vehicle without compromising strength and the larger goal of protecting occupants."

"Carbon Motors and the Carbon E7 are all about innovation and our partnership with Hydro Aluminum will enhance that core competency," said Alan J. Bratt, executive vice president and chief production officer for Carbon Motors. "With their engineering expertise, we will deliver a police cruiser that is technologically advanced, competitively priced and safe for those who work to protect us."

Carbon’s E7 was designed with input from law enforcement experts and comes fully equipped with a comprehensive suite of purpose-built, performance and safety features utilizing the latest advancements in defense and law enforcement technology. It includes an ergonomically correct cockpit; a high-power clean-diesel engine capable of running on biodiesel (providing 40 percent improvement in fuel efficiency) that will accelerate the vehicle from zero to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds with a governed top speed of 155 mph; integrated external and internal surveillance capabilities, radar; LoJack; an automatic license plate recognition system; radiation and biological threat detectors; and 360-degree, built-in LED emergency lighting.

About Carbon Motors Corporation

Carbon Motors Corporation is a bold, new homeland security company on a critical mission to design, develop, manufacture, distribute, service, and recycle at end-of-life, the world’s first purpose-built law enforcement patrol vehicle. Learn more at www.carbonmotors.com.