Cummins Newsroom: Our Innovation, Technology and Services

Diesel and battery electric powertrains: What’s the difference?

Feb 08, 2024 by Cummins Inc., Global Power Technology Leader

As we enter the energy transition in the transportation industry, alternative power continues to emerge, many grounded on the technologies, designs and innovations of our existing power sources like diesel engines. Battery electric powertrains are increasingly popular, due to their zero emissions status, low upkeep costs and simplified maintenance, but not everyone is ready to switch to electric powertrains or advanced diesel powertrains.

Discover the differences between diesel powertrains and battery electric powertrains, and how both help us in our journey to reduce emissions.

Key differences between diesel and battery electric powertrains

The powertrain refers to a set of parts that work together to provide the power to move a vehicle.

Diesel powertrains use a diesel engine to power the vehicle. Diesel fuel is injected into the engine, which creates thermal energy through combustion and generates the power to move the vehicle. A diesel powertrain includes the transmission, drive shafts, differentials and axles that work together to move the vehicle.

In electric vehicles, the components of a powertrain are a bit different, but the basic idea is the same. Instead of an engine, there is an electric motor. Instead of a fuel tank, there is a battery.

The motor uses energy from the battery to spin the wheels. The powertrain includes power electronics, like an inverter, to control the speed and the power of the electric motor and a vehicle controller to align all the main and auxiliary power components based on energy needs and consumption. Depending on a customer’s application and needs, the powertrain can include either a single or multi-speed transmission.

Like how a diesel vehicle goes to a diesel station when it’s time to refuel, an electric vehicle would go to a charging station. There are different levels of charging stations available to meet the demands of electric commercial vehicles. The adoption of higher-power charging stations in the future will reduce the charge time to be similar to how long it takes to refill a diesel tank.

When we compare diesel engines and battery electric powertrains, they have their strengths and challenges. Electric vehicles lead the way in sustainability as they don’t emit carbon emissions when in operation. On the other hand, while diesel engines still emit emissions, diesel technology has improved. Today’s clean diesel engines emit 90% less emissions than the engines produced before the year 2000. Additionally, all Cummins’ automotive and industrial engines are compatible with B5 biodiesel. Cummins’ on-highway engine models from 2007 on (to today) are B20 compatible.

What are the advantages of diesel and battery electric powertrains?

Each powertrain type offers key advantages and benefits to customers. Electric powertrains are best suited for urban city transportation where drivers experience stop-and-go traffic more frequently. Each time an electric vehicle stops, energy is generated by the electric motor and fed back into the onboard energy storage system to be used for the next acceleration. Electric powertrains require limited maintenance as they do not have as many parts – no fuel filters, aftertreatment systems or additives.

There are also key advantages to diesel engines. Diesel engines are some of the most fuel and energy-efficient options in the market. They are a great option for long-distance travel, as diesel vehicles can travel 20% to 25% farther on a single gallon of fuel compared to similarly sized gasoline vehicles. In addition to their long-distance capabilities, diesel engines have a long lifespan, built tough to handle high compression and hard work. They deliver strong acceleration, towing and hauling potential.

For customers looking to reduce their emissions today, since 2007, all Cummins engines have been approved to use blends up to B20.

Ultimately, there are many factors to consider when choosing if a diesel or battery electric powertrain is right for a customer – whether it meets their day-to-day needs, emissions targets or business goals all within their budget.

Examples of electrification in transportation

As technologies evolve and infrastructure improves, these considerations may change, further tipping the scales in favor of electric vehicles.

Electric school buses

Battery electric buses already represent the future of public transportation. The West Grand School District (WGSD) in Colorado added Blue Bird Type-D All-American electric bus to its fleet in March 2020. The bus features an Accelera™ by Cummins PowerDrive 7000 system. The Orange Unified School District (OUSD) in California currently operates with 15 Accelera-powered Blue Bird electric buses and has applied for funding for an additional 16.

Using only electricity for power. The electric buses remove carbon tailpipe emissions from the equations, significantly improving local air quality, lowering noise pollution and improving the driver and passenger experience.

Both WGSD and OUSD report that their communities and students enjoy the quiet, clean ride and appreciate that there are no exhaust smells when using electric buses.

Electric Trucks

The trucking industry is increasingly adopting electric powertrain systems for medium and heavy-duty applications. Battery electric trucks significantly reduce operating costs due to lower fuel and maintenance expenses, and with zero tailpipe emissions, they contribute to cleaner air quality and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

If you’re interested in learning more about battery electric power solutions, don’t forget to explore Accelera™ by Cummins battery systems and solutions.

Examples of diesel engines in transportation

Having been working for over a hundred years, diesel engines are deeply integrated into our daily lives, powering many industries, businesses and communities.

On-Highway applications

Trucking: The trucking industry relies heavily on diesel engines, from dump trucks, pickup trucks and utility vehicles to box and flatbed trucks.

First Responders: Diesel engines are reliable and durable, making them an optimal option for first responders. First responders don’t need to be concerned about whether or not their engine will start in the event of an emergency call.

Defense: Military companies depend on the durability of diesel engines on the battlefield. See how Cummins Inc. powers the U.S. Army with opposed-piston technology that boosts power and heat rejection capabilities.

Off-Highway applications

Agriculture: Diesel engines help farmers ensure that food moves from their fields to our tables. Cummins has powered agriculture for over 100 years with over 1 million Cummins engines currently running for the world’s farmers.

Construction: Time is money. Advanced diesel engines like the Cummins X12 and X15 increase load capabilities and use less fuel.

Mining: Advanced diesel engines like the QSK60 offer more uptime and productivity while lowering emissions, keeping mines operating and moving toward a more sustainable future. Cummins has also approved the use of unblended hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), which can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% when considering the whole lifecycle.

If you’re interested in diesel, you can learn more about how diesel engines are helping us today.

Together, we work toward a lower-emissions future

Cummins is well positioned as one of the few global companies capable of providing integrated solutions across a range of combustion and electric powertrains. Through our Destination Zero strategy, Cummins is integrating the widest range of power technologies so customers can decarbonize today, while planning for power of the future.

Learn more about our Destination Zero strategy today.

About Accelera™ by Cummins:

Accelera by Cummins provides a diverse portfolio of zero-emissions solutions for the world’s most economically vital industries, empowering them to accelerate the transition to a sustainable future. Accelera, a business segment of Cummins Inc., is both a components supplier and integrator, focused on batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, e-axles, traction drive and electrolyzers. Accelera currently has operations in North America, across Europe and in Asia.

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. Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana (U.S.), Cummins employs approximately 73,600 people committed to powering a more prosperous world. It operates a robust distribution and support network in more than 190 countries and territories. Cummins earned about $2.2 billion on sales of $28.1 billion in 2022.

To learn more about Accelera by Cummins, visit accelerazero.com.

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 Newsroom: Our Innovation, Technology and Services

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

Jul 10, 2024 by Cummins Inc., Global Power Technology Leader

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.

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

Jun 17, 2024 by Cummins Inc., Global Power Technology Leader

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.

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.”