Canada-based natural gas engine maker Cummins Westport has joined a project headed by the United States Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to develop a new low-emissions natural gas engine for transit and urban truck markets. As part of the deal, Cummins Westport said it will receive $592,000 in grant funding to offset the costs for developing an 8.9-liter L Gas Plus natural gas engine.
Scheduled for release in mid-2004, this spark-ignited 320-horsepower engine would be added to Cummins Westport's line of alternative fuel engines for truck and bus applications, the company said.
The L Gas Plus is expected to be certified at 1.2 grams of nitrogen oxides (NOx) per brake-horsepower hour. This represents a NOx reduction of more than 40% compared with similar clean diesel engines certified so far.