The work will feature Westport's enhanced spark ignited (ESI) natural gas engine technology and demonstrate "High Frequency Corona Discharge Ignition" on an OEM partner's engine.
by Staff
December 9, 2015
Photo courtesy of Westport
2 min to read
Photo courtesy of Westport
Westport Innovations Inc. and the Gas Technology Institute (GTI) have been awarded a $900,000 grant as part of a public-private partnership for a program to advance natural gas combustion technology, Westport has announced.
The work will feature Westport's enhanced spark ignited (ESI) natural gas engine technology and demonstrate "High Frequency Corona Discharge Ignition" on an OEM partner's engine. The engine has a displacement of between 1L and 1.5L per cylinder and is targeted at medium duty commercial vehicle applications.
Ad Loading...
"Next-generation natural gas engines of this class will be smaller, lighter, lower cost and have even higher performance than modern diesel engines because we can exploit the advantages of natural gas as a high performance fuel with naturally lower emissions challenges," said Brad Douville, Westport's vice president of business development. "This new program builds on our ESI foundation by integrating corona discharge ignition technology, which opens a number of new opportunities for even higher engine performance, efficiency and reliability at lower maintenance costs than current spark ignition hardware. We would expect that, if this program is successful, Westport ESI systems integrating corona discharge technology could become commercially available in as soon as four years."
Of the total program funding, $750,000 is coming from the California Energy Commission and $150,000 is being provided by the Southern California Gas Company. Westport will contribute approximately $250,000 in additional funds for a total of $1.15 million.
The Environmental Protection Agency said California can’t enforce its Heavy-Duty Inspection and Maintenance Regulation, known as Clean Truck Check, on vehicles registered outside the state. But California said it will keep enforcing the rule.
The Trump administration has announced it will no longer criminally prosecute “diesel delete” cases of truck owners altering emissions systems in violation of EPA regulations. What does that mean for heavy-duty fleets?
Natural gas is quietly building a reputation as a clean, affordable, and reliable alternative fuel for long-haul trucks. And Ian MacDonald with Hexagon Agility says the Cummins X15N is a big reason why.
Mercedes-Benz has begun a new series of tests in Europe to validate vehicle compatibility with megawatt chargers and assess charging performance, thermal management, and usability on long-haul duty routes.
Safety, uptime, and insurance costs directly impact profitability. This eBook looks at how fleet software is evolving to deliver real ROI through proactive maintenance, AI-powered video telematics, and real-time driver coaching. Learn how fleets are reducing crashes, defending claims, and using integrated data to make smarter operational decisions.
Fleet software is getting more sophisticated and effective than ever, tying big data models together to transform maintenance, safety, and the value of your existing tech stack. Fleet technology upgrades are undoubtedly an investment, but updated technology can offer a much higher return. Read how upgrading your fleet technology can increase the return on your investment.
Idle reduction for heavy-duty trucks has come a long way. An updated playbook from the North American Council for Freight Efficiency explains what technologies deliver results today — and what’s coming next.
