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Cummins Westport to demonstrate low-emissions natural gas transit bus at Globe 2002

VANCOUVER, March 13 Cummins Westport Inc., a joint venture of Cummins Inc. of Columbus, Indiana and Westport Innovations Inc. of Vancouver, British Columbia, announced today that it will demonstrate its low-emissions C Gas Plus natural gas engine in a transit bus at Globe 2002, the 7th biennial trade fair and conference on Business and the Environment in Vancouver.

Globe 2002, scheduled for March 13-15, is Canada's largest environmental trade fair, with more than 1,000 registered delegates from all over the world. The fair will also include presentations by Guff Muench, President of Cummins Westport, and by David Demers, President of Westport Innovations. Westport has been nominated for Globe's inaugural Technology Innovation and Application Award along with four other companies: Toyota Canada Inc., Kvaerner Chemetics Inc., Irving Oil Ltd. and Hydroxyl Systems Inc. More information about Globe 2002 is available at the trade fair's website: www.globe2002.com.

The shared Westport Innovations and Cummins Westport booth at Globe 2002 includes a display of the advanced technology Cummins Westport ISX-G 400 horsepower heavy-duty engine, the world's first low-emissions natural gas truck engine capable of matching the torque and fuel efficiency of the diesel. The engine is currently in customer field trials with limited commercial availability scheduled for late 2003.

Also displayed is Westport Innovations' Ford Focus, the world's first diesel car with a natural gas fuel system. In the Fall of 2001 Westport drove the prototype more than 6,000 kilometers to Dearborn, Michigan where it was tested by Ford engineers. On the way to Dearborn, the car won two gold medals at the Michelin Bibendum alternative energy vehicle competition in Los Angeles.

The C Gas Plus, North America's leading low-emissions natural gas transit bus engine, is being demonstrated in a 40-foot (12.2 meter) New Flyer transit bus owned and operated by Pierce Transit, the major public transportation provider for Tacoma, WA. The bus, which was driven to Vancouver on Monday, will be used to provide tours for Globe 2002 delegates.

Pierce operates 247 transit buses, including 80 operated and maintained for nearby Sound Transit. A total of 158 of the buses, or 64% of the combined fleets, use clean-burning natural gas. Pierce plans to phase out its diesel buses, except for two historic vehicles, by 2006.

The Pierce and Sound Transit fleets includes 23 new C Gas Plus engines, some of which have been in service on a customer field trial basis since 2000. Pierce reports that the C Gas Plus engines show reduced maintenance costs and lower oil consumption than older-technology natural gas engines. Pierce has agreed to lend one of its C Gas Plus-powered buses to Cummins Westport for one week of demonstrations in Vancouver.

The C Gas Plus produces 90% less particulate matter, 50% less oxides of nitrogen and 10% less carbon dioxide than equivalent diesel engines. More than 900 Gas Plus engines have been ordered for major U.S. transit fleets since the engine was introduced for commercial sale last summer. Earlier this week Pierce ordered another 18 buses with the C Gas Plus engine, with delivery scheduled before the end of 2002.

Cummins Inc. is the world's largest manufacturer of commercial diesel engines above 50 horsepower. Westport Innovations is the leading developer of natural gas fuel systems for diesel engines. Cummins Westport Inc., formed in 2001, develops and markets low-emissions alternative fuel vehicle engines manufactured by Cummins.