Omnitek Engineering Corp. says it has signed a contract with a European customer to develop a heavy-duty, 13-liter natural gas engine for Class 8 trucks and certify the engine to EURO 6 emissions standards, utilizing its patented technology.
According to Omnitek, the development contract includes a multiyear supply agreement for its proprietary components.
The company says the new 13-liter, 450 hp natural gas engine will initially be utilized to power a fleet of approximately 1,000 new Class 8 trucks, scheduled to commence service in 2017.
“The ability of Omnitek’s technology to achieve EURO 6 emissions certification standards, which is a competitive advantage and not easily achieved, has not gone unnoticed in Europe. In addition, the availability of a 13-liter, 450 hp EURO 6 heavy-duty natural gas engine, coupled with the build-out of natural gas fueling infrastructure, should further accelerate deployment of natural gas heavy-duty trucks in Europe, as well as other world regions that require EURO 6 certification,” says Werner Funk, president and CEO of Omnitek Engineering Corp.
Funk added he anticipates certain key projects commencing in the near future, as fleet managers have now completed analyzing the economic benefits of a payback period of less than two years for diesel-to-natural gas engine conversions and also recognize the environmental considerations and related compliance issues with meeting emissions mandates.
