Westport to collaborate with Ford to advance the automaker's hydrogen engine program

VANCOUVER, July 15 -- Westport Innovations Inc. (WPT: TSX) announced today that it has signed an agreement with Ford Motor Company to support the automaker's hydrogen engine development program.

Under the agreement, Ford will purchase Westport's fuel injection hardware, electronic controls and engineering support, including a set of prototype hydrogen fuel injectors. Westport retains the intellectual property rights for the injector, which is a hydrogen-specific version of Westport's patented and proprietary direct injection technology for light-duty natural gas engines. The cost of Ford's program was not disclosed.

Michael Gallagher, Westport's Chief Operating Officer, added, "Our past work with Ford in developing light-duty natural gas fuel systems helped build the confidence to continue working with us on other gaseous fuel programs. We believe the fastest and most economical pathway to hydrogen is through the development of gaseous fuel engines and we are proud to be part of Ford's research in this area."

Westport Innovations Inc. is the leading developer of gaseous fuel engine technologies. It develops, manufacturers and sells a wide range of engines for commercial transportation applications such as trucks and buses through its joint venture with Cummins, Inc. Technology development alliances are in place with a number of other leading engine manufacturers, including MAN, Isuzu, and BMW.