Caterpillar Inc. today announced the sale of more than 260 engines powered with ACERT technology that will be used in the Seattle, WA, metropolitan area. The Caterpillar C9 clean diesel engines will be installed in buses made by New Flyer of America Inc., the largest manufacturer of transit buses in North America.

The buses will be purchased by King County Metro, which operates a fleet of more than 1,300 vehicles and serves approximately 100 million riders annually in the Seattle area. Most of the buses will be equipped with diesel electric hybrid technology, which combines the power of a clean diesel engine with an electric motor.

"Mass transit agencies are taking a new look at Caterpillar engines with ACERT technology, and this sale is extremely significant as we pursue more opportunities around North America," said James J. Parker, Caterpillar vice president with responsibility for the company’s Power Systems Marketing Division.

ACERT is a differentiated technology that reduces emissions at the point of combustion. All Caterpillar on-highway truck and bus engines will be equipped with ACERT technology in the fourth quarter of this year. The technology will also be used as the foundation to meet future emission regulations for the company’s entire diesel engine product line, including construction and mining machines and power generation units.