Westport, a global leader in advanced alternative fuel systems for transportation, has announced the first North American demonstration of its compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel storage system combined with the on-engine HPDI fuel system of Cespira, its joint venture with Volvo Group. The demonstration will take place at ACT Expo 2026, scheduled for May 4-7 in Las Vegas. The system is installed on a latest-generation Volvo VNL 300 truck, delivering 500 horsepower and 1,850 lb-ft of torque, with fuel efficiency on CNG closely comparable to diesel operation.
Real-World Demonstration Marks Key Milestone
For the first time, Westport is showcasing the system in real-world operation in a demonstration truck. This marks a critical step toward commercializing HPDI technology with CNG for the North American heavy-duty market, where CNG is preferred and demand for practical, cost-effective, lower-emission diesel alternatives continues to grow.
Advancing Clean Transportation with CNG
Westport's high-pressure (approximately 700 bar) CNG platform is engineered for diesel combustion engines that require in-cylinder, high-pressure gaseous fuel injection, including engines equipped with the HPDI fuel system developed by Cespira. While HPDI is commercially available in more than 30 countries, powering over 10,000 trucks worldwide using liquefied natural gas (LNG), North America's preference for CNG has limited adoption. Westport's new fuel storage system removes that barrier.
"Showcasing our next-generation high-pressure CNG system at ACT Expo marks a defining milestone for the future of clean transportation," said Westport CEO Dan Sceli. "By combining advanced high-pressure storage with Cespira's proven HPDI fuel systems, we're demonstrating that fleets can achieve diesel performance and efficiency using widely available natural gas. This is more than a product introduction—it's a meaningful step toward delivering real emissions reductions with compelling operating economics for the North American market."
Building a Pathway for Hydrogen
The HPDI fuel system can be applied and certified to run on various fuels, including natural gas, hydrogen, or a blend, with minimal hardware changes. OEMs can integrate NG HPDI in the near term and later leverage existing investments to extend the technology to other fuels. Unlike fuel cells, an engine with HPDI does not require hydrogen to be 99.999% pure, avoiding the need for a dedicated super-clean distribution system and the high cost of liquefying and transporting hydrogen in cryogenic trailers. Westport believes this fuel adaptability provides a more practical path for hydrogen use in heavy-duty transportation.
