VANCOUVER, B.C. ­– Two major technology companies have signed a deal to develop natural gas systems and technology for the trucking industry.

Westport Innovations Inc. of Vancouver, B.C., and Delphi Automotive PLC, based in Gillingham, England, have decided to share intellectual property and engineering duties to co-develop and manufacture high-pressure natural gas fuel injectors designed for multiple engine original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

The companies have committed to developing a production capacity capable of producing more than 100,000 injectors over the course of the next four years.

According to the statement issued by the two companies, the first injector will be used as a core component in the Westport HPDI 2.0 fuel system.

Westport and Delphi claim that the jointly-produced injectors will have a single actuator design, making it easier (and thereby cheaper) to adapt the component to fit a wide variety of OEM engines, that because it is using Delphi’s high-performance twin valve technology, the injectors will have increased flow capacity and compatibility with high-power density applications, all while costing “significantly less than current HPDI injectors.”