Sweden's Volvo Group and Vancouver's Westport Fuel Systems have teamed up to establish a new joint venture in Vancouver aimed at developing components for hydrogen combustion engines specifically for the heavy-duty trucking sector. The unveiling of their product took place at the University of BC, where the foundational fuel injection technology was originally developed by Westport three decades ago. Unlike hydrogen fuel cells, the focus here is on components for internal combustion engines that will utilize hydrogen as a fuel source. The joint venture involves Westport contributing its high-pressure direct injection system assets and intellectual property, with Volvo acquiring a 45% interest through an initial investment of US$28 million and a potential additional investment of US$45 million. The event also highlighted the significance of hydrogen in decarbonizing sectors that are challenging to electrify with battery power, like long-haul trucking, due to the impracticality of carrying heavy batteries. Hydrogen's high energy density and minimal emissions make it a promising power source for such applications. The article mentions that hydrogen combustion engines have advantages over fuel cells in terms of manufacturing efficiency and performance under heavy loads, as they can utilize lower grades of hydrogen and operate similar to natural gas engines. The positive sentiment towards hydrogen as an energy source is reflected in the statements made by Liberal MP Terry Beech, emphasizing the importance of such initiatives for Canada's clean-tech industry.