In the early 1980's, Professor Philip Hill at the University of British Columbia's (UBC) Mechanical Engineering Department
began seeking improvements to natural gas combustion in engines. Working with a team of graduate students
and research engineers, Prof. Hill focused on using natural gas as a fuel in diesel engines to reduce emissions of nitrogen
oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM), which are harmful to human health and the environment. At the same time, he wanted to
preserve the performance, fuel economy, durability, and reliability characteristics for which the diesel engine is famous.
With limited funding and no suitable commercial components or testing equipment available, Prof. Hill and the team designed
and fabricated their own components and equipment. Through research and experimentation, they began to form key theoretical
knowledge, which would become the basis of a revolutionary technology.
Prof. Hill selected to inject a small amount of diesel fuel before a main injection of natural gas to start combustion
of the engine. With this method, he was able to successfully retain the characteristics of the diesel engine. And
because the natural gas was injected at high pressure, the concept was called high pressure direct injection (HPDI) of
natural gas.
The team also developed the initial and unique injector concepts that enabled this double injection to take place within a
single injector that fit in the same location as the original diesel injector.
To date, no commercially available technology allowed diesel engines to run on natural gas without compromises
in performance and fuel efficiency. Alternative fuel technologies for global transportation markets, particularly for
heavy-duty trucks, have been complex, impractical, and expensive.
In 1994, UBC's University-Industry Liaison Office, which markets and licenses UBC's research projects, introduced
David Demers to Prof. Hill. And in 1995, with HPDI technology as its principal strategic asset, Westport Innovations Inc. was formed.
"The initial research conducted by Dr. Hill and his team at UBC was the genesis of our company's leadership
in developing and commercializing low-emissions, environmentally friendly engine systems. Today, Westporters continue to draw
inspiration from Dr. Hill's design and technical brilliance."
— David Demers, CEO Westport Innovations Inc. |
In 1999, Westport and Cummins Inc. of Columbus, Indiana entered into a memorandum of understanding to explore the development
of HPDI technology for Cummins flagship heavy-duty truck engine, the 15-litre ISX.
In 2001, Westport and Cummins formed a joint venture, Cummins Westport Inc.
With confidence in Westport's expertise and potential, Cummins transferred its current spark-ignited natural gas engines
and related technologies for on-highway vehicles, industrial, and power generation applications to the new joint venture.
Today, Cummins Westport offers heavy-duty natural gas vehicle engines from 150 to 320 horsepower and boasts over 25,000 engines in service worldwide.
In 2005, Westport and Beijing Tianhai Industry Co. Ltd. began a relationship that would develop into the formation of a joint
venture—BTIC Westport Inc.—to develop and market natural gas tanks for the transportation market.
In 2006, Westport launched the Westport HD GX Engine and LNG Fuel System for heavy-duty trucking applications.
The technology, based on the 15-litre Cummins ISX, has the potential for adaptation to other OEM engines as well.
Juniper Engines Inc., a joint venture between Westport Innovations Inc. and OMVL SpA, was created in 2007 and now offers
high-performance 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre alternative fuel engines for the global industrial market.
Westport formed a joint venture with Weichai Power Co., Ltd., China's largest heavy duty engine manufacturer, and Hong Kong Peterson (CNG)
Equipment Limited in 2008. The new entity, Weichai Westport Inc. (WWI), will develop, manufacture, market,
and sell advanced, alternative fuel engines incorporating Westport technology (and relevant parts and kits) for use in automobiles, heavy duty
trucks, power generation and shipping applications.
Westport has come a long way from the small research lab at UBC. We have
- made significant improvements and refinements to the original HPDI technology, demonstrated its benefits in real-world
applications, and launched an engine and fuel system product for heavy-duty applications;
- derived additional innovative and advanced direct-injection technologies, which have established Westport's position and
reputation as the world leader in our field; and
- built extensive experience in developing both diesel-cycle and spark-ignited engines and fuel systems using natural gas
and hydrogen as fuel.
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