July 16, 2024

Powering big cruisers in the future

I am always on the lookout for significant developments that may benefit boating and last week I read a story in the e-newsletter, Sustainable Truck and Van that had both a Canadian and an environmental aspect. Volvo and Westport Fuel Systems will be partners in quite a significant joint venture for the development of powertrain components for trucks. British Columbia is home to Westport Fuel Systems and the birthplace of Westport’s HPDI(-)patented fuel system technology.

The two partners will jointly promote, develop and further accelerate the commercialization of the HPDI technology. This joint venture “will resolutely focus on moving forward affordable, sustainable transportation solutions using the internal combustion engine operating on renewable fuels now and hydrogen in the future”, as stated by Westport. Could this technology be applied to boats?

The story stated that collaboration with transportation partners and end-users has led to the deployment of the HPDI system in thousands of Volvo trucks across Europe, underscoring its effectiveness in achieving carbon neutrality. Since the commercial release of HPDI in 2018, fleets have collectively avoided hundreds of thousands of tons of CO2 emissions annually.

This success demonstrates the immediate impact of integrating hydrogen and biogas technologies into existing infrastructure. At the heart of the HPDI patented Fuel System is a revolutionary patented injector with a dual concentric needle design that delivers small quantities of diesel fuel and large quantities of natural gas, at high pressure, to the combustion chamber. The natural gas is injected at the end of the compression stroke.

Boating and more broadly, the marine sector and shipping need to address our environmental footprint but I also believe that boaters care very much about the environment and will be willing to pay for clean operation. What attracts me to this solution is that it involves diesel ICE engines that we are familiar with and I anticipate that it will generate the power levels we need in sizes and weights that work in boating. It appears to be working for the transportation sector.

“This joint venture is poised to make a significant impact on global long-haul and off-road heavy-duty applications,” said Dan Sceli, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Westport Fuel Systems, and interim President of the Volvo/Westport JV. “By combining Volvo’s extensive expertise in commercial vehicle and power system manufacturing with Westport’s innovative fuel system technology, we are creating a powerful force for change that can make a meaningful contribution to reduce carbon emissions immediately and affordably. Together we are committed to delivering sustainable, efficient, and economically viable solutions for long-haul transportation.”

This story is both a positive step toward critically important clean transportation and global decarbonization and also a Canadian story that I wanted to share with our readers.

Andy Adams – Editor