Cummins and Westport Innovations of Canada have formed a 50/50 joint venture to develop and market low-emissions, high-performance natural gas engines.

Westport will contribute its high-pressure direct injection technology and other proprietary natural gas technologies. Cummins will include its current medium-duty spark-ignited natural gas engines and proprietary engine-related technologies. Cummins will manufacture the engines, which will be exclusively distributed and serviced by the Cummins distribution system.
"There is increasing demand for natural gas powered products capable of demonstrating diesel-like performance and reliability in most of our markets," said Tim Solso, Cummins chairman and CEO.
The joint venture is headquartered in Vancouver, with a board of directors consisting of three representatives from Cummins and three representatives from Westport. Westport's existing technology development projects with other diesel engine manufacturers are not affected by the agreement with Cummins.
Westport officials expect the joint venture to immediately generate sales from established products, while paving the way to commercialization of Westport's HPDI-based technologies.
The joint venture has design and marketing responsibility for all of Cummins' existing medium-duty natural gas products, including the B5.9G, B5.9LPG and C8.3G engines. These products will continue to be manufactured and distributed by Cummins.
In addition, the joint venture will also offer the ISX heavy-duty engine series incorporating Westport's patented HPDI technology. This product will represent the first natural gas heavy-duty engine capable of generating up to 600 horsepower for the truck market.
"With this joint venture, Cummins and Westport have created a company with the broadest product line in the alternative fueled on-highway vehicle market," said Tom Kieffer, Executive Director, Marketing for Cummins Truck and Bus Business. "Our existing spark ignition line of natural gas engines has been well received in the medium-duty range and sales are expected to increase significantly this year. In the past, heavy-duty alternate fuel customers have had to make compromises, but with Westport's HPDI technology, we can provide cost effective solutions with diesel-like performance, which will be well received by traditional diesel customers.
Cummins and Westport have been working together for more than a year on using Westport's technology in the ISX engine. (See "Cummins and Westport Partner on LNG Trucks," 11/23/1999.) Last month, The California Air Resources Board approved low-emissions certification for the Cummins truck engine with the Westport natural gas fuel system.