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Gold/Mining/Energy : Westport Innovations ASE -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: G.F. who wrote (194)	12/21/1999 11:15:00 AM
From: John Marcinko	Respond to of 210

Dec 20 - Westport Innovations and BC Gas Form Strategic Alliance Mon, Dec 20, 1999, Vancouver, BC — Vancouver, B.C. - Westport Innovations Inc. (WPT:TSE) and BC Gas Inc. (BCG:TSE), both of Vancouver, have formed a strategic alliance to develop business opportunities involving natural gas fuelled engines. Under the alliance, BC Gas will provide fuel, fuelling equipment and other assistance for certain projects to demonstrate Westport's technology, which uses clean-burning natural gas instead of oil-based diesel fuel in diesel engines. BC Gas has also announced a new incentive program that will provide a grant of $10,000 per truck to any buyers of natural gas fuelled heavy-duty trucks that will operate in BC Gas' distribution area. Westport and BC Gas will work together to explore potential markets, identify gas infrastructure needs, and quantify the economic and environmental benefits of highly efficient natural gas engines in a variety of applications. “This alliance will help both companies because of the interdependence of natural gas supply infrastructure and Westport's natural gas fuel technology,” said David Demers, President of Westport. “For example, the success of our technology will improve BC Gas' system utilization and help clean the air, while the availability of BC Gas fuelling stations will improve demand for heavy-duty trucks fuelled by natural gas.” One of Westport's previously disclosed projects is to adapt three heavy-duty diesel trucks to liquefied natural gas fuel before the end of the year 2000. Two trucks will operate in British Columbia, including one to be owned by Westport, and one to be owned by truck fleet operator Bobell Group of Aldergrove, B.C. Both trucks will be eligible for the $10,000 grant, and both will use fuel purchased from BCG Services Inc., a subsidiary of BC Gas Inc. Bobell will use fuel storage and refuelling equipment to be supplied by Westport and by BCG 4 Pro Systems Inc., another BC Gas subsidiary. BC Gas is a leading provider of energy and utility services in Western Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest. The focus of the alliance will initially be in British Columbia but may grow to include selected North American and international markets. “We see a real growth opportunity for natural gas use in heavy-duty engine applications that benefit from Westport's high-efficiency technology,” said Gordon Barefoot, Senior Vice-President of Planning and Development for BC Gas. “Together we should be able to make a significant contribution to air quality with cost-effective, high-performance products and services.” Westport's patented High Pressure Direct Injection (HPDI) natural gas fuel systems are intended to retain all of the performance and fuel economy of diesel engines while meeting future U.S. Environmental Protection Agency emissions targets for oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). Westport's fuel systems are also intended to significantly reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to meet proposed global warming initiatives. Westport's strategy is to develop natural gas technology for diesel engines through key strategic alliances. With Columbus, Indiana-based Cummins Engine Company, Inc., the world's largest producer of diesel engines over 200 horsepower, Westport is developing low-emissions, natural gas-fuelled engines for heavy-duty trucks and stationary power generators. Separately, with Ford Motor Company of Dearborn, Michigan, Westport is developing the enabling technologies for a natural gas fuelled diesel engine for light-duty vehicles. Note: This news release contains forward-looking statements about Westport's plans for its technology based on the current expectations of management. Westport cautions investors that due to risks and uncertainties, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. For further information please contact: Alan Bayless, Manager, Investor Relations, Westport Innovations Inc. (604) 718-2016 Al Basham, President, BCG 4Pro Systems Inc. (604) 293-8822 back to News Releases