Ricardo Helps Shape CAFE Fuel Economy Ruling

VAN BUREN TWP., Mich., May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Ricardo, Inc., a leading
independent provider of technology, product innovation and engineering
solutions to the world's automotive, military, transport and new energy
industries, has announced that is has provided technical support to the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on the final 2009 Light
Duty vehicle CAFE rulemaking which will come into force for 2011. Ricardo
provided its expert advice based on technical analysis of comments received
for the Notice on Proposed Rule Making (NPRM), the process through which
interested parties may comment on proposed regulations.

Ricardo was contracted as an objective and independent authority in assessing
comments provided to the NPRM process on cost and effectiveness of fuel saving
technologies. This role was recognized by NHTSA in the final published version
of the 2009 CAFE rule, which states that: "NHTSA chose to contract Ricardo
because of its extensive experience and expertise in working with both
government and industry on fuel economy-improving technology issues."

"When viewed collectively with our existing fuel economy and emissions work
with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Academy of
Sciences, and branches of the military, as well as existing customers across
the automotive, commercial vehicle and off-highway sectors, this project
solidifies Ricardo's position as a primary fuel economy thought leader in the
U.S.," said Dean Harlow, President of Ricardo, Inc. "We look forward to
continuing dialogue with agencies and other stakeholders to assure that the
requirements identified within the final government regulation are practical
from a manufacturing and technology standpoint."

NHTSA specifically sought comments on the technology chapter of the NPRM which
was based on the estimates which it had developed jointly with the EPA on the
availability, applicability, cost and effectiveness for a variety of fuel
saving technologies. Ricardo utilized its unique systems engineering
capabilities inherent in its Total Vehicle Fuel Economy (TVFE) toolset to
advise NHTSA on revisions to technology assumptions, benefits and costs,
availability, phase-in, and differentiation by vehicle class. NHTSA retained
responsibility for the final rule, but in developing its final technical
analysis relied significantly on the advice provided by Ricardo as a neutral
and independent expert.

"This project demonstrates Ricardo's depth of expertise in systems engineering
which enables understanding, integrating and optimizing the complex cost and
technical solutions related to CAFE fuel efficiency requirements," said Sandy
Stojkovski, director of the Ricardo Total Vehicle Fuel Economy (TVFE)
practice, which applies a systems engineering approach to optimization. "This
selection by NHTSA further exemplifies Ricardo's role as a premier strategic
technical advisor."

Because of Ricardo's extensive experience and expertise in working with both
government and industry on fuel economy-improving technology issues, NHTSA
contracted Ricardo to provide technical consulting services in connection with
the Technology chapter of the final rule. The NHTSA project drew from
Ricardo's full range of systems-engineering expertise, encompassing gasoline
and diesel technology, hybrid propulsion, transmission and driveline systems,
controls and electronics, and vehicle engineering.

About Ricardo
Ricardo, the Eco-Innovation Technology Company, is a leading independent
provider of technology, product innovation, engineering solutions and
strategic consulting to the world's automotive, military, transport and new
energy industries. The company's skill base represents the state-of-the-art
in low emissions and fuel-efficient powertrain technology, and can be best
summarized: "Ricardo is Fuel Economy." Ricardo offers TVFE(TM), its Total
Vehicle Fuel Economy engineering service, to transportation manufacturers and
related government agencies worldwide to provide objective evaluation of all
available technologies to identify the most cost-effective strategies to
accomplish fuel economy and CO(2) goals.

With technical centers and offices throughout Europe, the U.S. and Asia,
Ricardo provides engineering expertise ranging from vehicle systems
integration, controls & electronics, hardware and software development, to the
latest driveline and transmission systems and gasoline, diesel, hybrid and
fuel cell powertrain technologies. Ricardo's customers include the world's
major automakers and suppliers as well as manufacturers in the military,
commercial, off-highway and clean energy sectors. The company also serves in
advisory roles to governmental and independent agencies. Ricardo's U.S.
operation, Ricardo, Inc., is headquartered in Van Buren Township, Michigan.
Ricardo plc posted sales of $394 million in financial year 2008 and is a
constituent of the FTSE TechMark 100 index - a group of innovative technology
companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. For more information, visit
www.ricardo.com.

SOURCE Ricardo, Inc.

Frank Buscemi of The Quell Group, +1-248-649-8900, fbuscemi@quell.com, for
Ricardo, Inc.; or Anthony Smith, Ricardo Media Office, +44 1273 382710,
media@ricardo.com