Westport Innovations expands Canadian investment

VANCOUVER, (Jan. 27, 2004) — B.C.-based fuel cell technology supplier Westport Innovations has joined Fuel Cells Canada in an effort to advance hydrogen-based fuel technology among transportation and industrial users in Canada.

Fuel Cells Canada — a non-profit, industry and government-led association to promote fuel cell technology throughout the nation — also named Westport COO Dr. Michael Gallagher to its Board of Directors.

“We at Westport have always maintained that the internal combustion engine represents a wonderful platform to advance the hydrogen cause by providing short-term demand for hydrogen and helping pave the way for the emergence of fuel cell technologies,” said Dr. Gallagher in a press release.

Dr. Gallagher referred to the recent work performed by Westport on the use of hydrogen/natural gas mixtures in transit bus engines as a case in point. Even blends with relatively small amounts of hydrogen (20 per cent by volume
and 7 per cent on an energy basis) showed dramatic reductions in harmful pollutant emissions, he said.

Westport is best known for its joint venture with Cummins Inc. to develops, manufacture, and sell a wide range of engines for heavy-truck and bus applications.