Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - February 2024 - 10

TECHNICAL INNOVATIONS
STANDARDS
Westport's HPDI fuel system consists of a cryogenic tank and integral high-pressure LNG pump
mounted on the chassis of the truck.
Westport's new fuel system will feature
improved fuel pressure control, which supports
higher-pressure fuel supply systems to maximize
engine performance and thermal efficiency.
immediately available solution for fleets
to achieve their decarbonization goals
as well as driving the acceleration and
scaling of development for global market
adoption for a variety of OEMs, "
Johansson said.
Westport's new fuel system will be an
evolution of its existing HPDI LNG application
that is currently available and
has been on the road for several years.
The new system reportedly features
improved fuel pressure control, which
supports higher-pressure fuel supply
systems to maximize engine performance
and thermal efficiency.
10 February 2024
The ABCs of LNG
The concept of an LNG HPDI fuel system
is based on diesel combustion
technology. On HPDI-equipped engines,
a small amount of diesel fuel is injected
into the cylinder prior to the gas. This
initiates the ignition process. The injector
then uses concentric needles to enable
diesel and gas to be delivered
through the same injector.
Gasoline-fueled engines can achieve
higher horsepower and torque output
by using direct injection and relying
on heated compression for ignition.
Thus, the characteristic of the gas engine
is very similar to a diesel engine
in this instance.
Westport says the LNG HPDI system
can help diesel engines meet existing
standards for performance, fuel efficiency
and operating range required for
heavy-duty transport while also reducing
their fuel consumption and decarbonized
operation.
Westport provided specs for a
12.8-liter Volvo G13C460 six-cylinder
engine equipped with its LNG HPDI system.
According to internal testing, the
unit achieved a maximum power output
of 338 kW (460 hp) at 1700-1800 rpm
and a maximum torque output of 2,300
Nm (1,696 lb-ft) at 1,050-1,300 rpm
with a claimed 100% reduction in CO2
emissions well to wheel.
Matt Wolfe
SAE completes next step
to standardize Tesladeveloped
EV charging
connector
SAE International announced on
December 19 that it has released the
Technical Information Report for the
SAE J3400 standard covering development
and implementation of the Tesladeveloped
NACS (North American
Charging Standard) connector to couple
public and residential charging units
to EVs made by any automaker. In a
release, the organization said the SAE
J3400 North American Charging
Standard Electric Vehicle Coupler
Technical Information Report (TIR) " was
developed through broad-based industry
consensus in the SAE Hybrid-EV
J3400 NACS Electric Vehicle Coupler
Task Force. "
The SAE J3400: NACS Electric
Vehicle Coupler Technical Information
Report can be reached at: https://www.
sae.org/standards/content/
j3400_202312/.
Release of the TIR for the J3400
standard means certain critical engineering
and development parameters
have been established to allow developers
to proceed with certainty about
many aspects of deployment and commercialization
of the NACS connector.
Ford and General Motors this spring
were the first in a string of automakers
to indicate they would adopt the NACS
charging connector. SAE said in June
2023 that it would standardize the
NACS connector: www.sae.org/
news/2023/06/sae-to-standardizenacs-charging-connector.
SAE
said that in addition to benefiting
EV drivers, the standard will help to ensure
that any supplier or manufacturer
will be able to use, manufacture or deploy
the J3400 connector for vehicles
and charging stations in North America.
" SAE J3400 provides a blueprint for
cost-effective mass electrification of
transportation in North America, " said
Dr. Rodney McGee, Ph.D., P.E., who is
chairman of the SAE J3400 NACS Task
TRUCK & OFF-HIGHWAY ENGINEERING
BOTH IMAGES: WESTPORT

https://www.sae.org/standards/content/j3400_202312/ http://www.sae.org/news/2023/06/sae-to-standardize-nacs-charging-connector

Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - February 2024

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