Cummins Adding 12-Liter Natural Gas Engine

Engine maker Cummins Inc. said its 50-50 joint venture with Westport Innovations has introduced a 12-liter version of its natural gas engine.

The new engine, Cummins Westport ISX12 G, is going through final testing now and production is expected to begin early next year, Cummins said Monday.

Cummins said the second engine in the joint venture had preliminary ratings of up to 400 horsepower and 1,450 pound-feet of torque, as well as an optional engine brake.

The engine will run on either compressed or liquefied natural gas, as does the venture’s 8.9-liter engine.

“The ISX12 G is expected to be certified at launch to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board emissions standards of 0.20 grams per brake horsepower-hour [nitrogen oxides] and 0.01 grams per brake horsepower-hour particulate matter, the statement said.

The engine is also “expected to be capable of meeting Euro VI [standards] and pending U.S. greenhouse gas and fuel-efficiency regulations,” it added.