Westport Innovations Signs HPDI Fuel System Development Agreement with Leading European Engine Manufacturer

14 July 2008

Westport Innovations Inc. has entered into a development agreement with a leading European engine manufacturer on the proprietary High Pressure Direct Injection (HPDI) fuel system operating with natural gas and biogas.(Earlier post.)

Westport and the as yet unnamed European engine manufacturer will work together to integrate and test Westport’s HPDI fuel system on their engine platforms.

The Westport HPDI system uses natural gas as the primary fuel, along with a small amount of diesel as an ignition source or “liquid spark plug”. The system uses a patented injector with a dual-concentric needle which allows for small quantities of diesel fuel and large quantities of natural gas to be delivered at high pressure to the combustion chamber.

HPDI gives the engine the efficiency and low-speed torque advantages of compression ignition while using natural gas as the primary fuel. With HPDI engines, approximately 95% of the diesel fuel (by energy) consumed in a diesel engine is displaced with natural gas with no compromises on engine torque, power, fuel economy, or driveability while at the same time reducing NO_x by 50% and CO₂ by up to 20%.