Cummins Inc. Destination Zero Strategy comes to life throughout ACT Expo

This week, Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) will share its Destination Zero strategy for key on-highway markets at ACT Expo. This is the company’s plan to go further, faster to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) and air quality impacts of its products and reach net-zero emissions by 2050 in a way that serves all stakeholders and is sustainable for Cummins’ business.

“Climate change is the existential crisis of our time, and we must work together to solve it,” said Tom Linebarger, Cummins Inc. Chairman and CEO. “Our ability to deliver on our mission of making people’s lives better by powering a more prosperous world is threatened by the world’s climate challenges.”

Cummins is embracing the opportunity to be part of the solution to the problem of climate change by pursuing reductions of GHGs from both internal combustion engines and new technologies. This is an overview of some of the Cummins’ technologies on display at ACT Expo, which help enable reductions in GHGs:

X15H – Cummins debuts this 15-liter hydrogen engine this month. This engine is built on Cummins’ new fuel-agnostic platform, where below the head gasket each fuel type’s engine has largely similar components, and above the head gasket, each has different components for different fuel types. This version, with expected full production in 2027, pairs with clean, zero-carbon hydrogen fuel. Cummins also plans to release a 6.7-liter hydrogen engine.

X15N – The X15N helps customers reach net-zero GHG emissions when paired with renewable natural gas and reduce NOx emissions. This engine offers reduced package size and weight compared to diesel and power and torque curves almost identical to diesel. Built on a strong foundation and more than 30 years of experience in natural gas engine production, this fully integrated solution is performing well in global markets and will arrive in production in the U.S. in 2024.

B6.7 Propane – This engine is the industry’s first purpose-built, medium-duty, turbocharged spark-ignited platform for propane fuels. Built upon the legacy of the legendary Cummins B-series platform, the B6.7 Propane is designed to deliver diesel-like durability and performance and a lower total cost of operation than any propane engine in the market today. The B6.7 Propane engine targets ultra-low NOx certification at launch, meeting both EPA and CARB emissions regulations for 2024 and 2027. 

Cummins Clean Fuel Technologies Fuel Systems – These natural gas fuel system configurations integrate with multiple body OEMs and include back of cab, front of body, side mount, roof mount and tailgate mount systems. Truck applications include refuse, over-the-road, construction, port, beverage delivery and more. 

Fuel Cell Electric Demonstrator Truck - This fuel cell and battery electric power system is designed for vocational applications, including regional haul; urban delivery operations; port drayage; and terminal container handling. This truck uses a fuel cell electric powertrain that replaces a conventional internal combustion engine. The electric motor is powered by high-voltage batteries and fuel cell engines. As the vehicle is driven, the system operates the Cummins dual HD90 Fuel Cell Engines to dynamically manage the charge of the high-voltage batteries as required by the power load demands of vehicle operation. The energy storage includes seven hydrogen fuel tanks with a total of 32 kg of compressed hydrogen gas at 350 bar, and it is equipped with seven high-voltage batteries, each with 53.4 kWh of capacity providing a range of approximately 200 miles.

Terminal Tractor featuring the PowerDrive 8000 - This battery-electric system is designed to power terminal tractor applications in port, intermodal, and distribution markets. The components include a single direct drive traction motor, a system control module thermal management system and BP30E battery packs. The battery packs were also designed to meet the needs of terminal tractor duty cycles, including assisting operators to get through their 10- to 12-hour shifts. In the case a charge is needed, the vehicle is dc-fast charge compatible and can be at 85 percent state of charge in only 45 minutes. This electric powertrain has an improved maneuverability resulting from the increased efficiency, instantaneous torque, and reduced vibrations.

Battery Electric School Bus – This Cummins-powered Blue Bird electric school bus is road tested and approved. More than 450 electric school buses are already on the road across the country. Electric buses have a lower cost of maintenance than internal combustion engine buses and provide zero tailpipe emissions when in use. A central charging location can be built out in a bus yard. 

The commitment to net-zero emissions requires changes to Cummins’ products and the energy sources that power them. This work requires collaboration and leadership from governments, utilities, and other industries. Driving factors of the pace of the transition include infrastructure investment, regulatory advancements, and customer requirements. Because so many partners will influence these changes, Cummins employees around the world are working in their communities to partner on these efforts. 

This work builds on the framework of the company’s PLANET 2050 environmental sustainability strategy, which also includes a focus on improving its communities and using natural resources in the most sustainable way. PLANET 2050 includes quantifiable goals for 2030 and visionary, longer-term aspirations for 2050.