Canadian Firm, Ford Partner for Hydrogen Technology

Vancouver-based Westport Innovations Inc. and Ford Motor Company will cooperate on a project to develop and demonstrate an advanced direct injection fuel system for vehicles powered by high-efficiency, high performance engines operating on pure hydrogen. Dr. Michael Gallagher, Westport’s President and Chief Operating Officer, said that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) would also be teaming with Westport and Ford on the further development of Westport’s hydrogen direct injection (H2DI) technology.

The two-year development program will be divided into two phases. Phase one will define advanced fuel system requirements including the design of fuel injectors. Phase two will incorporate the design and manufacture of new prototype fuel systems. The Government of Canada has contributed $250,000 during phase one.

Dr. Gallagher added that Westport’s H2DI technology has been in testing at Ford, and has shown the potential to provide high power and engine torque with diesel-like efficiency and very low emissions. “Early data indicates the strong potential for a truly green vehicle combining great efficiency characteristics with extremely low air pollutants and zero greenhouse gas emissions at the tailpipe. This technology has the potential to be commercially available a lot sooner and more cost-effectively than other hydrogen automotive technologies.”

Ford began investigating the benefits of hydrogen direct injection for reciprocating engines with Westport in 2003.