Vehicle technology developer Westport Innovations has introduced the next generation high pressure direct injection, the Westport HPDI 2.0 on the Weichai Westport WP12 engine platform.
Westport WP12HPDI, which is first Chinese engine featuring Westport HPDI technology, is claimed to deliver power and performance of the base diesel engine and burn less expensive natural gas instead of 95% of diesel fuel.
The company is planning to launch 30 trucks for customer validation through 2014, following which the factory production is expected to start in 2015.
Westport CEO David Demers said the company is the largest market for natural gas trucks demonstrated by its joint venture with over 60,000 natural gas engines sold by Weichai Westport in the last two years, a growth of about 100% year over year.
"We have not only found common ground for success in China but are forging ahead with a second program aimed at making the benefits of advanced Westport HPDI 2.0 technology available on the majority of the natural gas engines sold by Weichai Westport," Demers added.
WP12 with Westport HPDI 2.0 is part of the company's plan to offer clean-burning and lower-cost natural gas engines offering diesel-like performance and the technology is expected to be certified to be compliant with China V emissions standards.
Weichai and Westport will also develop the 10L Weichai Westport WD10 engine with Westport HPDI 2.0 for which the Weichai Westport will fund the project and Westport will supply key components and engineering support.
