AVL and Westport Sign Agreement to Deliver Next-Generation HPDI Technology

Westport Innovations Inc. (TSX:WPT / Nasdaq:WPRT), engineering the world’s most advanced natural gas engines and vehicles and AVL List GmbH., the world’s leading independent company for development, simulation and testing technology of powertrains for global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), announced that they have entered into an agreement to deliver next-generation High Pressure Direct Injection (HPDI) gas technology.

This agreement enables Westport and AVL to leverage Westport’s proprietary HPDI 2.0 natural gas technology, along with AVL’s engine and powertrain development capabilities, proprietary techniques and global market reach, for timely delivery of solutions to OEMs. This gives the two companies a formidable advantage in natural gas engine and vehicle development as the industry moves towards offering next-generation natural gas vehicles.

“As concern about transportation greenhouse gas emissions continues to grow, one of the simplest and cost- effective approaches for OEMs is to offer HPDI 2.0 natural gas versions of their commercial vehicles,” said David Demers, Westport’s CEO. “HPDI 2.0 is compatible with the world’s most advanced diesel engines and offers a fast path to market for high-performance trucks and off-road vehicles. It does not compromise performance yet delivers greenhouse gas benefits along with lower-cost fuel. When renewable natural gas (RNG), such as landfill gas, is used HPDI 2.0 can reduce the production of greenhouse gas emissions by more than 80% compared to equivalent diesel trucks.”

“One of the biggest challenges faced by the commercial vehicle industry today is finding affordable ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including CO2, while further lowering conventional emissions,” said Helmut List, CEO of AVL. “AVL’s powertrain engineering experience and testing solutions, combined with this exciting new HPDI 2.0 technology, will create great opportunities for our customers.”

AVL has been delivering advanced powertrain solutions to global OEMs for decades and will work with Westport to market and provide the HPDI 2.0 solutions to customers for rapid adoption. AVL’s global network of more than 7,470 employees and numerous technical centres will be available to support parallel engine development programs to ensure OEMs can take advantage of this cutting-edge technology.

AVL and Westport will collaborate through shared technology and engineering processes, and the companies will establish a Strategic Governance Group to provide long-term relationship oversight. Meanwhile, OEM customers will continue to source HPDI 2.0 components and technology directly from Westport. For competitive reasons, further terms and conditions of the agreement have not been disclosed.

Westport HPDI 2.0 is the only natural gas technology capable of delivering performance and fuel economy equivalent to that of current high performance diesel-fuelled engines. This combination of high performance and high efficiency is critical for heavy-duty engines in demanding commercial applications. HPDI 2.0 is fully compatible with natural gas from renewable sources, which is increasingly available in the transportation marketplace.

About Westport

 

Westport engineers the world’s most advanced natural gas engines and vehicles. More than that, we are fundamentally changing the way the world travels the roads, rails and seas. We work with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) worldwide from design through to production, creating products to meet the growing demand for vehicle technology that will reduce both emissions and fuel costs.

Contact

Westport

T: +1 604-718-2046

invest@westport.com

Media Inquiries:

Holly Black

Director, Communications

Westport

T: +1 604-718-2011

media@westport.com