Representing an investment of approximately USD170m, the 200,000-square-foot plant will produce up to 100,000 high-pressure hydrogen vessels annually when it is completed.

At the company’s East Asia Research & Development Centre, the upcoming ‘X15H’ engine was presented alongside Meritor axles, aftertreatment systems, and ‘Endurant’ transmissions.

Under the agreement, charging stations for Commercial Vehicles (CVs) will be placed every 120km along the EU’s main highways by 2028, whilst hydrogen refuelling stations will be installed at least every 200km by 2031.

The joint venture, which will make use of Westport assets and intellectual property, will receive an initial USD28m investment from Volvo, giving it a 45% stake.

This report is based on trips to the Turbo Technologies facility in Huddersfield and to the third Hydrogen for Life conference in London, both taking place in June 2023.

The American manufacturer claims the new alloy will make its engines more durable and efficient than was previously possible. 

Westport executives David M Johnson, Scott Baker, and Charlie Ker spoke to T&BB about the 'H2-HPDI', which enables a diesel combustion engine to run effectively on hydrogen fuel - reducing emissions by up to 98%.

The truck – a Peterbilt Model 579 – featured a Cummins ‘X15H’ engine, providing up to 500 horsepower (372 kW) and up to 1,900 lb-ft torque.

In 2022, the Canadian manufacturer of gas engines made USD305.7m, a 2% fall compared to revenues (USD312.4m) reported in 2021.

According to Ricardo, it has produced a prototype internal combustion engine and sent it off to Cummins and BorgWarner, who are partners in the Avanced Propulsion Centre project.

Westport has committed to investing up to USD10m a year over the next decade to support the construction and development of the new site, which it will undertake together with the local authority.

JCB has stated that retrofitting the hydrogen engine - which is made for construction and agricultural machinery - into the Mercedes truck took just a few days.