Cummins Westport Launches Clean B Gas Plus Engine

VANCOUVER, Sept. 26, 2002 - Cummins Westport Inc., a joint venture of Cummins Inc. of Columbus, Indiana and Westport Innovations Inc. of Vancouver, British Columbia, announced today the commercial launch of the low-emissions B Gas Plus engine for automotive markets.

With up to 230 horsepower, the B Gas Plus is an advanced version of the Cummins Westport B5.9G engine, in production since 1994. The new engine features electronic controls instead of mechanical controls of the throttle as well as the Plus control system released last year on the C Gas Plus which allows for improved performance, robustness and flexibility over a wide range of operating conditions.

Cummins Westport has received certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency based on test results showing emissions significantly below the levels set for October 1, 2002. A family emissions level for oxides of nitrogen (NOx) has been established at 1.8 grams per horsepower hour, or 28% lower than the level of 2.5 grams set by the EPA. The particulate matter (PM) level is certified at 0.01 grams, or 90% lower than the regulatory standard of 0.1 grams.

Cummins Westport has also received Euro III European certification for the B Gas Plus engine. This is a universal fuel certification based on low emissions using natural gas compositions at both ends of a broad quality range, including a high-energy and a low-energy fuel. The emissions test is conducted without external adjustment to the engine to accommodate for the variation in fuel compositions. The B Gas Plus is equipped with electronics and sensors that automatically adjust to such variations and can operate even if the natural gas composition is as low as Methane number 65 - lower than any other engine in this class.

On low-energy fuel, NOx emissions were 2.8 grams per kilowatt hour, approaching the Euro 5 (2008) standard of 2 grams and is far below the Euro 3 standard of 5 grams and the Euro 4 (2005) standard of 3.5 grams. PM emissions were just 0.002 grams on high-energy fuel and 0.003 grams on low-energy fuel, well below the Euro 3 standard of 0.10 grams and the Euro 4/Euro 5 standard of 0.02 grams.

"Since early this year selected customers have extensively tested the B Gas Plus engine in airport shuttle, school bus, tourist trolley-style bus, and street sweeper applications in the U.S.," said Hugh Foden, President of Cummins Westport Inc. "We believe that the new B Gas Plus will become a dominant force in its class in the natural gas engine market, following the path of the larger C Gas Plus engine that we introduced in mid-2001."

David Roberts, Indianapolis International Airport Director, added, "We have operated a parking shuttle bus with the B Gas Plus since February. Our staff reports that the engine has been very reliable with excellent fuel economy. The technical support for our mechanics was exceptional as well."

The Cummins Westport B Gas Plus is manufactured by Cummins at Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The first engines are scheduled for shipment in October. The B Gas Plus uses lean-burn-spark ignited technology. The base engine is derived from the market leading Cummins ISB diesel and is compatible with Cummins diesel engine diagnostic tools.

Cummins Inc. is a global power leader in engines, electrical power generation systems and related technologies. Westport Innovations is the leading developer of natural gas fuel systems for diesel engines. Cummins Westport Inc., formed in March 2001, develops and markets low-emissions propane and natural gas vehicle engines manufactured by Cummins.