TIG/m Modern Street Railways Delivers 4th Pollution-Free Self-Powered Streetcar to Aruba

LOS ANGELES - March 21, 2016 - PRLog -- Mr. Oslin B. Sevinger, Minister of Special Development and Infrastructure of Aruba, accepted the delivery of the island nation's fourth self-powered, pollution-free streetcar designed and installed by TIG/m Modern Street Railways, manufacturers of the world's greenest streetcars for urban public transportation. The Aruba fleet consists of four streetcars, three of which are equipped with a hybrid electric battery/hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system and can run for 20 hours without recharging. The first streetcar in the fleet has been operating since December 2012. All four streetcars are currently conveying locals, tourists, and passengers from Aruba's cruise ship port to and around the downtown main thoroughfare of Oranjestad, its capital.

"At first instance our vision of the streetcars project seemed crazy, but with well thought-out planning, partnership, commitment, and perseverance we made it the success it is today!" said Minister Sevinger.

At UN's Rio+20 talks, Aruba, under the leadership of the Prime Minister Mike Eman, partnered with the Carbon War Room (CWR), the global initiative founded by Sir Richard Branson and a group of entrepreneurs, to transition the island to 100% renewable energy. These partners intend to make Aruba a fossil fuel-free energy economy - a world first, if successful.

For Aruba, now committed to a fossil fuel-free future, the streetcar system is a groundbreaking example of zero-carbon rail transit. Wind farms will supply power to their grid, which will then supply power to the batteries used on-board TIG/m streetcars and the current used to electrolyze water to isolate hydrogen for the fuel cells. The only emission from the propulsion system is a small amount of pure water that can be collected for reintroduction into the electrolysis cycle or simple expelled along the route. TIG/m has created a genuinely sustainable public transportation system.

Aruba is a major tourist destination in the Caribbean for vacationing and gaming, and its port accommodates cruise lines such as Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruises, Pullman Tour Cruises, Thompson Cruises, Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, P&O Cruises, Seabourn Cruises, and Paul Gauguin Cruises.

About TIG/m, LLC: Modern Street Railways
Established in 2005, the company designs and manufactures pollution-free, self-powered, rail-based streetcars using 95% U.S. made technology. These custom state-of-the-art high-capacity hybrid/electric streetcars are designed for urban public transportation. Powered by a uniquely engineered and integrated self-contained power source that combines lithium iron phosphate batteries, regenerative braking, and a hydrogen fuel cell, the streetcars require no overhead wires, no wayside power, and generate zero pollutants. Visit http://www.TIG-m.com for more information.

TIG/m, LLC partners and co-founders are Alvaro Villa, Brad Read, and David Hall.

CEO Alvaro Villa, a native of Colombia, was one of Walt Disney Company's original Imagineers. Mr. Villa was head of electronic animation research and development. He founded and, for over 25 years, was President and CEO of AVG Technologies, Inc., a recognized vanguard in the design and fabrication of complex animatronic and robotic figures and dark rides for the themed entertainment industry. Holding numerous patents, he is now refocusing his engineering expertise to designing sustainable, pollution-free transportation.

President Brad Read has over 25 years of experience as a corporate executive and brings a hands-on approach to project management based on years of experience in civil, mechanical, and structural engineering, as well as design. Before co-founding TIG/m, Mr. Read, an innovator with patented designs, was President of Transportation Innovations Group and co-founder/President of Laurence/Wayne Research and Development Company.  Mr. Read has been working to bring hydrogen as an energy carrier to the transit industry since the 1990s, and has been interviewed and quoted in a number of publications including the New York Times.

Executive V.P. and CFO David D. Hall was EVP and CFO of AVG Technologies, Inc., and a founding board member of the Themed Entertainment Association, an international trade organization. Mr. Hall has many years of experience in financial management, project development, sophisticated technical manufacturing, and both industrial and consumer product design