Westport Innovations engages in the research, development, and marketing of high-performance engines and fuel systems. Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, their engines use gaseous fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen, and hydrogen-enriched compressed natural gas (HCNG). The company began in 1995 and is part of the Pollution and Treatment Controls Industry. They trade on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol (WPRT) and trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol (WPT.TO)
Westport’s engine technologies reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). They do all of this while preserving the power, torque, and fuel efficiency of diesel engines. The company’s experience and expertise is in helping commercial fleets and cities transition themselves from oil usage to natural gas usage. Along with their engine development knowledge and their work with gaseous fuels, they also provide fuel tanks and on-vehicle system engineering. Westport’s expertise includes the location, design, construction, and operation of fuel stations as well. In addition, they engage in fuel sourcing, mechanic and driver training, and service and support.
Westport’s engine laboratories are also at their Vancouver headquarters location. Designed for engines up to 1,200 horsepower, this facility is over 120,000 square feet and has eight engine test cells. The facility also features a medium-duty chassis dynamometer.
A joint venture is in place, involving Cummins Inc. and Westport Innovations Inc. This is Cummins Westport Inc., which delivers high-performance alternative fuel engines for the world market. This joint venture is in Vancouver with offices worldwide. Cummins manufactures the Cummins Westport Inc. engines, with warranty, service and after-sale support provided by the Global Cummins Distributor and Dealer network. Cummins Westport Inc. manufactures and sells an extensive range of these low-emissions alternative fuel engines for commercial transportation uses, including trucks and buses.
In August, Westport Innovations Inc. announced that CleanAir Logix of Oakland, California ordered 9 Kenworth T800 heavy-duty liquefied natural gas (LNG) trucks. These trucks feature Westport’s High Pressure Direct Injection (HPDI) technology. This order is for use at the Port of Oakland, where the trucks will find use in hauling containers to and from the seaport.
Westport’s ISX G engine and liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel system for heavy-duty class 8 trucks offers lower greenhouse gas emissions than comparable diesel engines. With these engines, trucking fleets can move to lower-cost, domestically available natural gas and/or biogas. The company’s LNG fuel system consists of LNG fuel tanks, Westport fuel injectors, cryogenic fuel pumps, and related electronic components.
Significant news for the company came this month when they reported that their joint venture, Cummins Westport Inc., received an order for more than 200 natural gas engines to equip new buses for transit providers in Lima, Peru. The International Association for Natural Gas Vehicles and their publication, NGV Global, say that Peru has the fifth-largest proven natural gas reserves in South America and over 7,800 natural gas vehicles as of mid-2007. Westport Innovations continues to innovate to provide their alternative engines to diverse global markets.
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