Reducing Transportation Emissions Towards a Net-Zero Future

Decarbonization in transportation

This article explores the importance of reducing transportation emissions, the concept of carbon footprints, and the various strategies employed to combat climate change and achieve a net-zero future.

Why is it important to reduce emissions?

Greenhouse gases (GHG) are molecules that accumulate in the atmosphere and lead to global warming. GHG emissions mitigation is the act of reducing the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere because of human activity. Some greenhouse gases such as methane are more potent than carbon dioxide. Since carbon dioxide persists over time and there’s a lot of it in the atmosphere, it is the greenhouse gas with the greatest warming effect. The resulting temperature rise caused by greenhouse gases has several effects. These include the melting of ice, especially at the poles, which leads to loss of habitat, higher sea levels, and less fresh water. Further consequences can include more extreme weather events, damage to ecosystems and wildlife, loss of biodiversity, and land degradation. 

Human activity and natural phenomena also give rise to air pollution which directly affects quality and can be harmful. Air pollutants include sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic matter, and particulates. It is very important to monitor and reduce these emissions as much as possible as they have harmful effects on human health, water, soil, vegetation, and animals.  

What is a carbon footprint?  

A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases produced by an individual or organization over a given period. It is an important measure to determine the impact of certain activities and find ways of reducing the effect on human health and the environment.  

Reducing carbon footprints can be done at a personal level by being mindful of the way we live our lives, at a corporate level through strategy, and at a government level through policy. For businesses, this can be achieved by implementing energy-efficient building standards, reducing waste, and using renewable energy sources. Cummins Inc., for example, has a long-range business strategy with an environmental lens to address climate change, natural resource use, and improving communities. Its PLANET 2050 environmental sustainability strategy has quantifiable goals timed to 2030, as well as aspirations for 2050. Cummins’ strategy to meet PLANET 2050’s product GHG reduction goal is called Destination Zero.   

Governments can implement policies to induce companies to reduce their carbon footprint. They can introduce carbon taxes or provide incentives for renewable energy and low carbon solutions. The European Union, for example, is planning to regulate the amount of emissions that can be caused by vehicles made by each truck manufacturer. In the U.S., the federal government has created extremely attractive incentives that promote carbon capture, hydrogen, biofuels, and other forms of renewable energy. When accounting for carbon emissions, it is important to do so through the well- to-wheel emissions analysis.  It considers the total energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions throughout the entire life cycle of an energy source. 

How can we reduce emissions from transportation?  

Transportation has one of the largest carbon footprints in the U.S., accounting for over a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions1. Reducing emissions from transport must be a major focus in the coming years. This can be done through the development and adoption of more efficient advanced diesel engines, electrification, and use of other low carbon fuels.   

At Cummins Inc., the path to zero emissions involves pursuing two avenues. We develop advanced internal combustion engines that are ready for immediate deployment. These engines use a variety of fuels ranging from advanced diesel and renewable diesel to renewable natural gas and hydrogen. Concurrently, Accelera by Cummins is leading the way in pioneering zero-emission solutions such as battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell powertrains. Cummins estimates that advancing in both areas will contribute to 1.4 gigatons of cumulative carbon reduction. That's the equivalent of eliminating all trucks from the road for a duration of three years. 

 

Can we achieve net zero?  

Net-zero emissions refers to an equilibrium where the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere is equal to the amount removed. There will always be some level of GHG emissions as part of critical activities, so these emissions must be offset.  

Net zero is achievable, but it must be met quickly to prevent further irreversible damage due to climate change. Global temperature increase levels are at 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels. With current increasing global energy demand trends and level of commitment from governments, this is expected to increase to 3°C and beyond towards the middle of the century. Cummins intends to lead by example and is committed to supporting its customers who seek to achieve zero emissions. 

Cummins Office Building

Cummins Inc.

Cummins, a global power technology leader, is a corporation of complementary business segments that design, manufacture, distribute and service a broad portfolio of power solutions. The company’s products range from internal combustion, electric and hybrid integrated power solutions and components including filtration, aftertreatment, turbochargers, fuel systems, controls systems, air handling systems, automated transmissions, electric power generation systems, microgrid controls, batteries, electrolyzers and fuel cell products.

Cummins Custompaks are being used for water management as Thailand struggles with its water crisis

CustomPak on site

Water crisis

Sixty Cummins Inc. CustomPaks are in service in Thailand as part of a critical water management plan aimed at easing the country’s water crisis – a crisis that has caused enormous economic and social damage and stirred conflict among communities.

Over the past several decades, Thailand has continually faced water problems caused by severe drought. Water reserves in dams and reservoirs are insufficient while water resources are often contaminated with toxins caused by urban communities and the industrial and agricultural sectors.

Severe flooding is a threat, too, at a time when the realities of climate change are hanging over the country.

As a result, the allocation of precious water resources, which must be shared among various stakeholders including new and existing industry, large and small agriculture, and cities and villages has become a flashpoint.

Kittithanapat Engineering Co. (KTP), has been involved in the water management system since 1996, working closely with authorities such as the Royal Irrigation Department, Department of Water Resources, Bangkok Metropolitan Authority and others.

CustomPaks on site

600 hp CustomPaks

To help KTP meet its often urgent requirements, Cummins DKSH (Thailand) has recently supplied 60 Australian-built CustomPaks – 45 powered by Cummins’ X15 engine rated at 600 hp, and 15 powered by the QSL9 rated at 325 hp. These fully self-contained powerpacks are emissions certified to Tier 3.

The CustomPaks are coupled to hydraulically-driven, large-volume submersible water pumps sourced by KTP from US company Moving Water Industries (MWI); KTP is the exclusive distributor in Thailand for these MWI Hydroflo pumps.

Prior to Cummins’ involvement, KTP was using another diesel engine brand but service support wasn’t up to the standard required.

Long-serving KTP engineer Kittisak Thanasoot says Cummins DKSH’s reputation for technical and aftersales support along with the reliability of the Cummins product were a key reason behind KTP’s decision to specify the CustomPaks for the Royal Irrigation Department.

The ability of Cummins DKSH to respond to short delivery times was also important.

“Supplying large quantities of high horsepower diesel engines for emergency situations such as flash flooding can be a challenge for KTP,” says Kittisak Thanasoot.

“Responding to the needs of the government agencies to manage such problems in a timely manner and with least impact on communities, KTP has found the answer in our partnership with Cummins DKSH.”

Power, pride and passion

Parked semi truck

The switch back to Cummins power has been beneficial for iconic New Zealand company Uhlenberg Haulage. It's all about whole-of-life costs.

Uhlenberg Haulage is closing in on 60 years in business, having been founded in 1966 by Mike and Carol Uhlenberg.

Based in Eltham, Taranaki, in New Zealand’s North Island, the operation is today owned and operated by their sons Chris, Daryl and Tony Uhlenberg.

Describing the Uhlenbergs as “old school family truckies”, Daryl talks about the company’s time-honored journey with a definite tone of pride, especially the work of his parents in laying the foundations for what is today an iconic fleet in its own right.

Cummins Inc. made its debut in the Uhlenberg fleet in 1971 with an NH250 powering a second-hand Kenworth K923 used in logging. A second Kenworth, a new W924 with a Cummins NTC335, followed soon after hauling an LPG tanker.

The Uhlenberg operation today comprises 40 prime movers and a variety of trailing gear to cater for the myriad of a jobs the fleet is involved in.

A number of Peterbilts feature in the fleet although Kenworth is now the brand of choice with six new units to be delivered over the next 12 months to cater for business growth.

Cummins’ X15 Euro 5 engine rated at 550 or 600 hp is the preferred power specification, with 18 red engines currently in the fleet.

Uhlenberg family in front of truck

Whole-of-life support

“The switch to Cummins has been a very good experience for us. We have nothing but praise for the Cummins organization,” says Daryl.

“The whole-of-life picture is the key thing for us and we’ve got that nailed with the support we get from Cummins – parts availability, scheduled maintenance, life expectancy and in-frame rebuilds.

“So the red engines turn up, we run them to life, which is 900,000 to 1.2 million kilometers, and then Cummins does an in-frame overhaul in a timely manner. If there’s an issue, parts and support are close by.

“The support we get from Cummins Palmerston North is fantastic, second to none.”

Daryl recently looked under a Kenworth that was in the workshop for a service and was surprised to see no oil leaking from the one-million-kilometer X15. “I remember when I was a fitter we had to wear a raincoat when working under a truck,” he jokes.

Fuel agnostic

Acknowledging that the push to decarbonize is now “very real”, Daryl likes the idea of Cummins’ fuel agnostic concept where one base internal combustion engine, optimized to run on diesel, can also be customized to run on ultra-low and zero-carbon fuels like renewable natural gas and hydrogen.

“My father was a pioneer of linehaul trucking in New Zealand and he always embraced new technology. He was never scared of it,” he says.

“I tend to be a little more cautious but I can see where a 500 hp natural gas or hydrogen engine would work for us in short haul applications,” he admits. “We’re certainly willing to look closely at these alternative fuel technologies when suitable infrastructure is in place.”

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