By Nick Gilbert
Westport Innovations, a natural gas engine provider, revealed that Volvo Trucks has announced plans to introduce a 13-L heavy-duty natural gas engine that will feature Westport high pressure direct injection (HPDI) technology.
The new product is slated to be introduced in the North America in the fiscal year 2014. Westport Innovations’ Chief Executive Officer, David Demers commented that the company’s collaboration with the Volvo Group is a significant product development program, which will address the growing demand for natural gas vehicles and engines in the heavy-duty market.
According to the terms of the deal announced by Westport Innovations on February 27, 2012, each partner will supply important resources and bear their own expenses. The program will be led by Westport Innovations. During the introduction of the product, Westport Innovations will deliver its HD system parts for a previously agreed quantity per engine like other such earlier announced agreements.
Westport Innovations offers proprietary solutions to enable engines to run using clean-burning fuels, which include hydrogen, liquefied natural gas, compressed natural gas, and renewable natural gas, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The company provides sophisticated LNG fueling systems featuring direct injection natural gas engine technology for use in heavy-duty vehicles and off-road purposes such as rail and mining.
Cummins Westport, a joint venture between Cummins and Westport Innovations, offers spark-ignited natural gas engines for transit applications such as buses and trucks in North America. Westport LD division supplies liquefied petroleum gas and natural gas fuels for light-duty trucks, passenger cars, and industrial purposes such as forklifts.
Source: http://www.westport.com/