Navistar has signed a concept development agreement with Clean Air
Power Ltd. to modify Navistar’s MaxxForce 13 big bore engine to run on
natural gas and clean diesel fuel for the North American market.
“This agreement supports Navistar’s strategy of product leadership,
offering our customers differentiated products merging the unique
skills of Clean Air Power in natural gas combustion and the knowledge
Navistar has in diesel combustion,” Jack Allen, president of Navistar’s
North American Truck Group. “The volatility of global diesel fuel
prices and the significant natural gas reserves available in the United
States make natural gas an attractive option for customers focused on
managing their fuel costs.”
The program will utilize Clean Air Power’s Dual-Fuel combustion
technology to deliver a MaxxForce 13 Advanced EGR engine that is fully
compliant with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2010
on-highway diesel emissions, without the use of liquid-urea SCR
(selective catalytic reduction). Upon successful concept development,
the two companies will move forward to product development and
validation.
“As we assess changing market conditions, the ability to offer
customers choice is important not only in our U.S. markets, but in our
global markets as well,” said Eric Tech, president, Navistar Engine
Group. “As we develop this product for our International brand truck
customers, we will also be able to leverage the technology in other
markets and products as appropriate.”
MaxxForce 13 natural gas engines utilizing Clean Air Power’s dual-fuel
combustion technology will initially target the regional haul tractor
market with a goal of a achieving a 400-mile range.
“By working with Clean Air Power we will be developing a dual-fuel
engine that will provide customers with a true big bore natural gas
powered engine,” added Allen. “The MaxxForce 13 natural gas engine will
meet Class 8 customer weight and performance requirements, which are
not being met by competitive products today.”
Navistar maintains a long-standing commitment to environmental
stewardship combined with providing customer friendly technologies,
like Navistar’s MaxxForce Advanced EGR (exhaust gas recirculation)
technology.
“We are very pleased to work with Navistar to advance the Dual-Fuel
product development of Navistar’s MaxxForce 13 to deliver clean fuel
technology consistent with Navistar’s customer-focused strategy,” said
John Pettitt, CEO of Clean Air Power.
