Cummins debuts fuel-agnostic engine
platform focusing on hydrogen and biogas, a big shift for a company
known for gas/diesel engines.
The new engine platform prioritizes lower emissions and offers a
diesel option as well as the use of sustainable fuels.
Cummins aims to bring its green technology to larger freight and
public transport vehicles, signaling a move beyond traditional cars
and trucks.
We're seeing the industry move quickly
towards renewable energy, both in the electric and hydrogen
categories, so Cummins is certainly onto something with its newest
creation. Of course, we'll get deeper into the specifics of this
fuel-agnostic engine and platform below, so keep reading!
Cummins Unveils Industry-First
Fuel-Agnostic Platform At SIAT 2024
At this year's Symposium on International Automotive Technology
conference in Pune, India, Cummins showcased its first-ever
fuel-agnostic engine platform. This came as a surprise to many
attendees, as Cummins Group has largely been a staple in fuel-based
manufacturing. You can also count on the brand debuting its hydrogen
engine at the Intermat Show in Paris in April.
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Some special features of this currently known
15-liter platform include the fact it reaches 530 horsepower when
dealing with hydrogen fuel and 510 horsepower with natural gas. This
platform and engine configuration is meant to utilize better thermal
efficiency, providing you, the driver, with an enhanced performance
experience.
What this does: Cummins has debuted a fuel-agnostic engine platform
focusing on natural gas rather than fossil fuel.
You Still Have A Diesel Option
Something else to note about this new engine platform by Cummins is
that it allows for a diesel option as well. Through this design, you
can also use sustainable HVO fuel or biodiesel with ratings up to 650
horsepower. The main objective of this project is to allow for
traditional engine configurations with a greener, cleaner twist, as
well as prioritize lower-to-none emissions. HVO fuel or biodiesel
won't have strong emission outputs, nor will they jeopardize your
Cummins engine.
As one of the industry's largest engine
manufacturers, Cummins works alongside major brands on engine
development and implementation on a daily basis. Because of this, the
ball has started rolling into the hydrogen segment, with this newest
platform being a cherry on top.
Fuel-agnostic engines have been an oxymoron of sorts up until now. You
finally have a brand as big and powerful as Cummins shifting its focus
from 100 percent gas manufacturing to that of hydrogen or biofuel
power. Toyota is a big player in this space right now, and so is
Honda: Cummins wants a bite.
Anytime we see a group of engine/battery makers
band together with car companies to develop groundbreaking technology,
we know there's a big shift coming. One of the best parts of hydrogen
being the main energy source for this specific fuel-agnostic platform
is that it opens the door for further hydrogen infrastructure across
the U.S./Canada/Europe/Asia. These markets tend to be most affected
and influenced by Cummins and its subsidiaries, so hydrogen is making
its way to a bigger scale.
Hydrogen is the future: Many believe that hydrogen engines are
the future of the auto industry. Cummins, specifically its Indian
division, has focused heavily on creating the next generation of
engine platforms, shifting away from fossil fuels.
Cummins Won't Stop At Regular Cars, Trucks, And SUVs
Another Easter egg we caught during this unveiling was that Cummins is
adamant that its "Destination Zero" vision reaches far beyond your
average car, truck, or SUV platform. The brand hopes to bring its
newest technology to much larger freight/shipping vehicles, plus
public transport. This could be BIG news for green energy, especially
coming out of a fossil-fuel-dependent company.
Because Cummins has long tested and teased a
natural gas/hydrogen engine, this does trickle down to other areas in
the auto space. You have larger freight trucks and construction
vehicles that may not be ready for electric platforms and technology,
which is where a creation like Cummins' newest fuel-agnostic engine
platform comes into play.
Through this groundbreaking manufacturing, you see larger, more needy
vehicles able to enjoy cleaner energy without compromising performance
or safety. Cummins is a global leader in auto manufacturing and engine
development, employing nearly 60,000+ people across the globe.
Fuel agnostic for the win: Cummins' current platform and
upcoming hydrogen engine will allow larger equipment and shipping
trucks to use renewable energy.
Batteries Don't Work (Right Now) For Hard Working Vehicles
One issue that plagues the construction and
shipping industry is how much power is needed for everyday work.
Current electric battery technology is not capable of handling
long-distance, bulky loads, which is where natural gas/hydrogen can
swoop in and save the day. Cummins has been doing this for over 100
years, building and supplying many of your favorite auto brands with
reliable engines and platforms.
However, now, the multinational corporation plans to move into a
hydrogen and biogas-reliant industry, from the everyday car to the
largest of equipment. Batteries, for now, do not cut it for certain
types of driving and energy consumption.
Now that we have a platform unveiled by Cummins,
it's time to wait until April for the hydrogen engine. Cummins
continues its forward momentum towards "Destination Zero" with the
unveiling of its B6.7H hydrogen engine at the Intermat Show in Paris,
which marks a major shift for the company and its global subsidiaries.
The joint venture with NPROXX for onboard fuel storage further
demonstrates Cummins' comprehensive approach to hydrogen-powered
combustion engines. Current engines take fossil fuels, which, up to
this point, Cummins has embraced. However, through cutting-edge
technology and advancement at its factories and labs, the auto
manufacturer is able to move beyond gas and into alternative,
electric-adjacent options.
The broader car industry is embracing electricity like never before,
but Cummins is working with what it's got and doing one hell of a job.
Innovation tends to be a focal point of Cummins' mission, as well as
relying on a global team of engineers versus one specific country.
Cummins has partnered with NPROXX for onboard hydrogen storage
technology.
Hydrogen Vehicles Are Still In The Early Stages Of Development
Something to note, even with Cummins debuting
this platform and subsequent engine, is that hydrogen technology is
VERY new. We only have a couple of models using hydrogen on roads,
including the Toyota Mirai, so this, at a large scale, will take time.
What we've seen in the electric industry is because of decades of
testing and building, which has just recently begun to blossom.
For hydrogen power, Cummins remains in the minority of manufacturers
actually taking a dive into developing platforms and engines.
According to the Department of Energy, much of the U.S. hydrogen
consumers lie in California, with infrastructure for refueling very
limited. This is a big step, but we'll need many more before
hydrogen becomes a "thing" for drivers.
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