VANCOUVER — Westport Innovations Inc. (TSX:WPT), a global leader in gaseous-fuelled power technologies, has received California Air Resources Board (CARB) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification for its High Pressure Direct Injection (HPDI) technology adapted to the 2007 Cummins ISX heavy-duty engine.

The EPA certification and the Executive Order from CARB certifies the HPDI LNG (liquefied natural gas) fuel system to 0.8g/bhp-hr oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and 0.01g/bhp-hr Particulate Matter (PM).

The new engine has one-third lower NOx emissions than required by current standards and also demonstrates a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, said Westport President and Chief Operating Officer Michael Gallagher.

CARB and EPA certification will provide further impetus to the plans of the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach to replace many of the 16,800 heavy-duty trucks currently operating daily at the Ports with the Westport LNG engine and fuel system, Gallagher stated.

“We are now in position with this new engine to support the deployment of these LNG trucks over the next few years to meet Port and other customer interest.”

Funding was approved eight weeks ago for the first 158 of the new LNG vehicles.

“This latest step with Westport’s unique LNG fuel system and proprietary injector technology continues to demonstrate the capability of HPDI direct gas injection technology to deliver diesel-like performance and efficiency with natural gas as a fuel,” added John Wall, VP and Chief Technical Officer of Cummins.

Last month, the Los Angeles and Long Beach Boards voted to ban the oldest, dirtiest trucks from their respective ports, separately approving a tariff that will gradually limit access to all but the cleanest vehicles and reduce pollution by short-haul vehicles by 80 percent.

LNG fuelling infrastructure to support the new trucks is now under construction, says Westport.