Westport announces high-pressure CNG system for heavy-duty trucks

1 May 2026

Westport announced the first North American demonstration of its compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel storage system combined with the high-pressure direct injection (HPDI) fuel system of Cespira—Westport’s joint venture with Volvo Group.

The system has been installed on a Volvo VNL 300 truck equipped with a 500 hp and 1,850 lb-ft of torque engine. The fuel efficiency of the CNG truck is closely comparable to the VNL running on diesel fuel, according to Westport.

Westport said the development marks a critical step toward commercializing HPDI technology with CNG for the North American heavy‑duty market, where CNG is preferred over liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Westport’s high‑pressure (~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—mainly LNG fueled trucks by Volvo—North America’s preference for CNG has limited adoption in this market.

“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,” said Westport CEO Dan Sceli.

Westport claims that the Volvo VNL 300 truck using CNG can achieve up to 10 miles per gallon equivalent, with a driving range of more than 600 miles. The technology will be showcased at ACT Expo 2026, taking place May 4-7 in Las Vegas, NV.

Source: Westport Fuel Systems