Volvo Group and Westport Fuel Systems have signed a letter of intent to establish a joint venture to accelerate the global adoption of Westport's HPDI fuel system technology. According to Westport, the HPDI enables existing internal combustion engine architecture to operate with a variety of alternative fuels, including natural gas, renewable natural gas or bio-methane, syngas and hydrogen.
Westport says that although Volvo will be a key customer of the joint venture, its mandate will be to enhance commercialization of HPDI through the addition of new trucking and equipment manufacturers as customers.
“HPDI enables the world’s trucking and off-road equipment manufacturers to address the challenges of meeting the regulatory requirements of Euro 7 and the US EPA while offering end users affordable options that are powered by carbon neutral fuels like biogas, zero carbon fuels like green hydrogen and other renewable fuels,” says Westport.
The plans set out in the joint venture will see Westport contribute its current HPDI assets and activities including related fixed assets, intellectual property, and business into the joint venture. Volvo will acquire a 45% interest in the joint venture for the sum of approximately US$28 million (approximately SEK 300 million) plus up to an additional US$45 million (approximately SEK 500 million) depending on the performance of the joint venture.
Commenting on the news, Lars Stenqvist, Chief Technology Officer of Volvo, said:
“Decarbonization with internal combustion engines running on renewable fuels, especially with HPDI, plays an important part in sustainable solutions. HPDI has been on the road in Volvo trucks for over five years and is a proven technology that allows customers to significantly reduce CO2 emissions in LBG (Liquefied Biogas) applications here and now and is a potential avenue for hydrogen.”
David Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, Westport, added:
“Westport is advancing fuel system solutions to help our customers affordably address the most pressing challenge of carbon reduction, while continuing to utilize existing manufacturing infrastructure. The joint venture with Volvo is a natural extension of both companies’ commitment to accelerating global carbon reduction and we are proud to partner with such a bold supporter of the future of the internal combustion engine. Combining our expertise strengthens HPDI’s position in the market and underscores Westport’s commitment to developing affordable fuel system technology that supports significant CO2 reductions in hard to abate sectors like heavy-duty transport and off-road applications, including a pathway to power equipment with zero carbon fuels like hydrogen.”
Completion of the joint venture is conditional on the successful negotiations and execution of a definitive investment agreement, joint venture agreement, supply agreement and development agreement. The joint venture is expected to launch in the first half of 2024.
