Westport Innovations starts tests of diesel engine modified for LNG
VANCOUVER (May 8, 2000) — Engine research firm Westport Innovations Inc. announced Friday that it has begun testing its first low-emissions heavy-duty truck equipped with the company’s patented fuel injectors and liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel storage system.
Road trials of a Kenworth T800 truck and modified Cummins ISX 400 horsepower diesel engine are intended to determine from a driver’s perspective how a truck using Westport’s fuel system responds at various load, terrain, and weather conditions, the Vancouver-based company said.
The engine is equipped with a high-pressure direct injection (HPDI) fuel system, which allows a diesel engine to operate almost exclusively on natural gas. The natural gas is ignited in the engine cylinder by a separate, prior injection of a small amount of diesel fuel. The Westport system never operates on diesel fuel alone.
The company said its goal is to create a truck that is indistinguishable in operations from a diesel-fuelled truck but with significantly lower operating costs and emissions. The test truck and trailer have a gross combined vehicle weight of approximately 82,000 pounds.
Have your say
This is a moderated forum. Comments will no longer be published unless they are accompanied by a first and last name and a verifiable email address. (Today's Trucking will not publish or share the email address.) Profane language and content deemed to be libelous, racist, or threatening in nature will not be published under any circumstances.