Westport Innovations joins Fuel Cells Canada

VANCOUVER, Jan. 26, 2004 -- Westport Innovations Inc. (TSX:WPT) announced today that it has joined Fuel Cells Canada in an effort to advance the development and use of hydrogen among transportation and industrial users.

Fuel Cells Canada also named Dr. Michael Gallagher, Westport's Chief Operating Officer, to its Board of Directors at a meeting on January 23, 2004. "We are eager to begin working with the members of Fuel Cells Canada to galvanize interest in and use of hydrogen among Canadians and the international community," said Dr. Gallagher. "We at Westport have always maintained that the internal combustion engine represents a wonderful platform to advance the hydrogen cause by providing short-term demand for hydrogen and helping pave the way for the emergence of fuel cell technologies."

Ron Britton, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fuel Cells Canada, said the goal of his association is to accelerate the development of Canada's world leading hydrogen and fuel cell industry. "Westport is a tremendous addition to our coalition particularly as we undertake the creation of the Hydrogen Highway and build towards the 2010 Olympics here in Vancouver and Whistler," said Mr. Britton. "To do this will require a broad coalition of hydrogen consuming technologies to help develop a fueling infrastructure."

Dr. Gallagher referred to the recent work performed by Westport on the use of hydrogen/natural gas mixtures in transit bus engines as a case in point. Even blends with relatively small amounts of hydrogen (20% by volume and 7% on an energy basis) showed dramatic reductions in harmful pollutant emissions, even compared to already very clean CNG buses.

"Heavy-duty commercial users of these blends (like transit fleets) create an economic pull for hydrogen infrastructure while at the same time helping alleviate urban air pollution problems," added Dr. Gallagher. "This infrastructure growth will provide important real-world experience with hydrogen and speed the development and awareness of the necessary codes and standards for deploying hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles in light-duty markets."

Westport Innovations Inc. is the leading developer of gaseous fuel engine technologies. It develops, manufactures and sells a wide range of engines for commercial transportation applications such as trucks and buses through Cummins Westport Inc., its joint venture with Cummins Inc. Technology development alliances are in place with a number of other leading engine manufacturers, including Ford, MAN, Isuzu, and BMW to develop engines that operate using cleaner-burning fuels such as natural gas, propane, hydrogen, and blended fuels such as HCNG.

Note: This document contains forward-looking statements about Westport's business, operations, technology development or to the environment in which it operates, which are based on Westport's estimates, forecasts and projections. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, or are beyond Westport's control. Consequently, readers should not place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. In addition, these forward-looking statements relate to the date on which they are made. Westport disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

  For further information, please contact:

  Westport Innovations Inc.
  Gordon Neal, Director, Investor Relations
  Phone: 604-718-2046; Email: invest@westport.com; Web:www.westport.com

  Fuel Cells Canada
  Erin Bigelow, Manager, Media & Member Relations
  Phone: 604-505-9160; Email: ebigelow@fuelcellscanada.ca;
  Web: www.fuelcellscanada.ca