Cummins Westport rolls out ISXG and ISMG natural gas engines

VANCOUVER (Sept. 18, 2002) — Cummins Westport, a joint venture of engine-maker Cummins and Westport Innovations of Vancouver, announced its product rollout schedule for Westport Cycle ultra-low emissions natural gas vehicle engines, the 15-litre ISXG and the 11-litre ISMG.

Cummins Westport said it expects to deliver 40 ISXG engines to customers next year, with full production in the spring of 2004. For the ISMG, Cummins Westport will conduct field trials of 10 engines starting in 2003 and start production for late 2004.

Based on the Cummins ISX diesel platform, the Cummins Westport ISXG will be offered in ratings from 400 to 500 horsepower. The ISXG will be manufactured by Cummins alongside the ISX at a plant in Columbus, Ind. The Cummins Westport ISMG will be offered at ratings from 280 horsepower to 350 horsepower and will be manufactured by Cummins alongside the base diesel platform, the Cummins ISM, at a plant in Jamestown, N.Y.

Compared with their diesel counterparts, the ISXG and ISMG will have the same performance but substantially lower emissions of oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and carbon dioxide, Cummins Westport said. The engines will be delivered to vehicle manufacturers with completely integrated fuel storage, electronic controls and fuel management systems. At launch, the Cummins Westport engines will be offered only with liquefied natural gas fuel storage, which has energy density advantages and avoids the weight penalty of compressed natural gas fuel tanks.