Cummins made clear its hydrogen ambitions
last year when it announced the development of hydrogen-fueled
combustion engines. We found out that Cummins was working on adapting
the combustion chambers and cylinder heads for optimized hydrogen
burning. Soon, the engine behemoth unveiled the concept of a
fuel-agnostic engine platform, able to burn any fuel with minor
modifications. Now, Cummins is ready with a production version of a
15-liter hydrogen-fueled engine.
The ever more stringent
environmental regulations have pushed vehicle manufacturers to look
for solutions to cut greenhouse gases (GHG). Electric vehicles look
promising for consumer applications, but heavy-duty scenarios require
a more adequate solution. That’s where the hydrogen might prove
useful, either by using it in fuel cells to produce electricity or by
burning it directly in an internal combustion engine.
Cummins has decided to
go all-in with hydrogen and started development with
fuel-cell-powered vehicles as well as hydrogen-powered internal
combustion engines. The latter is said to be a drop-in replacement for
diesel and gas engines, requiring only minor modifications to run on
hydrogen. Cummins being so far ahead in the internal combustion game
naturally favors the hydrogen-powered ICEs. Its fuel-agnostic engine
platform provides plenty of flexibility, allowing Cummins to move fast
toward the first commercially-available hydrogen engine.
The 15-liter version of the hydrogen engine that Cummins debuted at
ACT Expo in Long Beach, California will be ready for mass production
in 2027. A smaller, 6.7-liter version of this engine will also be
available soon, enabling the industry to reduce the GHG emission “yet
this decade”. The two engines are built upon
Cummins’ fuel-agnostic platform, where below the head gasket the
engines have largely similar components, and above the head gasket,
each has different components for different fuel types.
“Our customers are responding favorably to this practical
technology,” said Jim Nebergall, General Manager, Hydrogen
Engines at
Cummins. “These engines look like engines, they sound like
engines, and fit where engines normally fit.”
Advances in
hydrogen generation mean greener, more affordable hydrogen will
soon become available to the transportation companies. This
development will allow the industry to choose whatever technology
suits them on the path to decarbonization, without worrying about
costs.
