Cummins, Westport receive funding for engine project

COLUMBUS, Ind. (Nov. 20, 2000) — Cummins Inc. and Westport Innovations will receive $1 million US from the U.S. Dept. of Energy to jointly develop a new heavy-duty engine powered by natural gas.

The goal of the two-year project is to develop a concept that could enable a natural gas powered 400 horsepower heavy-duty truck engine to achieve emissions far below the 2002 U.S. and California requirement for oxides of nitrogen (NOx), the companies said.

Cummins, the world’s largest producer of diesel engines above 50 horsepower, will manage the project. Westport, the Vancouver, B.C.-based developer of alternative fuel systems for diesel engines, will perform most of the engineering work.

The companies said the project will use Westport’s high pressure direct injection (HPDI) natural gas technology, combined with exhaust gas re-circulation (EGR) technology. The objective is to achieve the lowest possible NOx levels with technology expected to be available during the next five years.