VANCOUVER, British Columbia —Westport Fuel Systems Inc. is announcing Cespira, its joint venture with Volvo Group, and Volvo Group have signed a development agreement to finalize the integration and commercialization of Cespira’s HPDI fuel system technology to enable Volvo Group’s 13-litre engine to run on hydrogen.
Volvo trucks are currently in on-road testing. The European certified commercial launch is targeted to happen before 2030.
“This development project reflects Volvo Group’s continued commitment to advancing low-carbon solutions for heavy-duty transport through multiple technology pathways,” said said Mehdi Ferhan, senior vice president, powertrain technology, Volvo. “By partnering with Cespira on the hydrogen application of its HPDI fuel system technology to allow our 13-litre engine platform to run on hydrogen, we recognize the potential of hydrogen internal combustion as a viable long-haul option for fleets to reduce emissions in demanding applications. Our commitment to this program underscores the confidence we have in our JV, Cespira, and in the long-term potential of HPDI fuel system technology,”
Heavy-Duty Hydrogen
Building on the proven HPDI fuel system technology in LNG-powered heavy-duty engines, the agreement governs the final development and commercialization activities to extend the 13L engine platform to run on hydrogen.
“Cespira’s HPDI fuel system enables direct injection of alternative fuels at high pressures into internal combustion engines, supporting the use of lower-carbon fuels while preserving the performance, durability and operating characteristics required for heavy-duty applications,” the groups said.
Applied to hydrogen, the technology is designed to deliver diesel-equivalent performance with a zero-carbon fuel, hydrogen. HPDI’s unique tolerance to a range of hydrogen fuel compositions is a significant benefit over fuel-cell systems, which require highly pure hydrogen. Moreover, with heavy duty load cycles, HPDI running hydrogen has performance and efficiency that is competitive with fuel cell systems.
The Next Phase
“Hydrogen HPDI is the next phase of our HPDI fuel system strategy,” said Carlos Gonzalez, president, CEO, Cespira. “Its high tolerance to hydrogen purity and ability to blend with natural gas support better economics for all stakeholders, enabling fleets to reduce CO₂ emissions with no trade-off in the performance they rely on. What is more, our HPDI development allows OEMs to adapt trucks to regional realities in fuel availability, price and infrastructure, while leveraging a common engine platform. This gives the industry cost-effective pathways to decarbonize today and builds optionality for other renewable fuels as the market evolves.”
Dana Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has been featured in multiple newspapers, books and magazines across the globe. She is currently based in the Atlanta, Georgia, area.
