SANYO 'eneloop bike' Rolls Into Yellowstone for Xanterra Employee Use

SAN DIEGO and YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- SANYO North America Corporation (SANYO) announces that it has provided five of its pedal-assist synergetic hybrid bicycles, the eneloop bike, to Xanterra Parks & Resorts (Xanterra), an organization that operates hotels, restaurants and activities in Yellowstone National Park located primarily in Wyoming, and extending into Montana and Idaho. The five eco-friendly bikes were given to the organization to help support its sustainability program for operations within the park.

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"We are grateful to SANYO for donating these bikes in support of our environmental program. Using these bikes for transportation instead of vehicles helps us achieve our goal of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions 30% by 2015. As climate change is impacting Yellowstone and other national parks, sustainable transportation is vital to protecting our public lands," said Beth Pratt, Director of Environmental Affairs for Xanterra in Yellowstone.

Yellowstone National Park covers an area of 3,472 square miles and became a national park on March 1, 1872. In 1978, Yellowstone was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Yellowstone had almost 3.3 million people visit in 2009 from all over the world, and the park is comprised of natural lakes, canyons, rivers, and mountain ranges and is the home to hundreds of species of mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles.

Xanterra has an environmental program, "Ecologix," embodying its commitment to the preservation and protection of the environment. The program has earned repeated recognition for environmental leadership in the hospitality industry, including major awards from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Environmental Protection Agency, Travel Industry Association of America, American Hotel and Lodging Association, National Parks Conservation Association, Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic Traveler, Colorado Department of Public Health, State of Arizona, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and Utah Department of Environmental Quality.

SANYO, a leading provider of energy, environment and lifestyle applications, shares the same commitment to preserve and protect the environment. Incorporating the eneloop bike into everyday activities, such as general operations in the park at some of the tourist attractions, like the lodge at Old Faithful or Mammoth Hot Springs, for delivering packages to hotel tenants or traveling from the employee dormitories to local work sites, the eneloop bike will be used as a viable, sustainable alternative form of transportation.  

Sam Murata, President of SANYO North America Corporation, commented, "The actions of each one of us can add up and make a big difference, especially when it comes to preserving such natural beauty as Yellowstone offers." He added, "By riding the SANYO eneloop bike, the user is eliminating unwanted emissions that come from gas-powered vehicles. In addition, the pedal-assist motor offers a comfortable and light-weight feeling during riding, allowing it to be perfect for operations or visiting local sites nearby even in a mountainous environment."

The eneloop bike features a regenerative charging system similar to hybrid automobiles, which allows the bike to re-generate energy, replenishing part of its power needs through regenerative coasting and braking. The bike is equipped to not only generate energy but to store energy as well, thereby eliminating emissions and encouraging the preservation of the natural environment. The power available from its engine is also powerful enough to assist weaker riders on hills and steep inclines, allowing for a light and pleasant riding experience.

The eneloop bike (CY-SPA600NA) received the "Best of Innovations" Award in the Eco-Design and Sustainable Technology Category at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show.

About Xanterra Parks & Resorts

Xanterra Parks & Resorts® (consisting of several affiliated Xanterra entities) operates lodges, restaurants and other concessions at national parks and state parks and resorts. Xanterra Parks & Resorts is the country's largest park concessioner. Xanterra Parks & Resorts operates concessions in the following locations: Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Zion, Crater Lake, Death Valley, Rocky Mountain and Petrified Forest National Parks, Mount Rushmore National Memorial and eight Ohio State Park Lodges as well as the Geneva Marina at Ohio's Geneva State Park. Xanterra Parks & Resorts also operates the Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, Arizona.

About SANYO

SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. is a global company providing solutions for environment, energy and lifestyle applications. SANYO North America Corporation, a subsidiary of SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., is based in San Diego, and its products include solar, rechargeable batteries, digital solutions (such as digital cameras, projectors, home appliances), biomedical laboratory equipment, HVAC and refrigeration equipment, and Smart Energy Systems.  

For more information on SANYO, please visit http://us.SANYO.com.

SOURCE SANYO North America Corp.