Cummins, Inc. Announces Its Hydrogen-Fueled Engine Development Program For Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs)

The search for power solutions to decarbonize commercial vehicles and off-highway equipment took an exciting turn in the summer of 2021, with an announcement from Cummins, Inc.

Cummins’s hydrogen-fueled engine development program is one of the company’s latest steps to advance zero-carbon technology. Customers are taking notice and so are governments. Indeed, judging by some reactions, it's almost as if Cummins has just reinvented the internal combustion engine (ICE). Of course, product development is in the early days, but the truth is, it looks very promising and I am excited about the capability of a hydrogen engine to virtually eliminate CO2 emissions.

Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Development

According to the EPA's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Model (GEM) for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Compliance, a model year 2027 Class 8 sleeper cab semi, powered by a hydrogen ICE, would generate 144 fewer metric tons of CO2 per year, versus its diesel-powered counterpart.

That adds up to saving 1,437 metric tons of CO2 over the life of that one vehicle —that’s equal to nearly 575 full size hot air balloons filled with CO2 in the sky. Imagine what a fleet of hydrogen ICE vehicles can do, if that is just one vehicle.

Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs)

Hydrogen ICEs will provide a low cost zero-carbon solution for high load factor and high utilization applications

Hydrogen ICEs will provide a low cost zero-carbon solution for high load factor and high utilization applications, where battery-electric solutions cannot meet the operational requirements and fuel cells are not yet economically viable.

A hydrogen ICE fits in modern trucks and works with transmissions and integrates seamlessly into the industry’s existing service networks and practices. End users are responding positively to the potential for a hydrogen engine, because of the zero-carbon fuel and its familiar technology.

Hydrogen engines key to zero-carbon future

Likewise, launching the hydrogen engine also benefits other paths to reach a zero-carbon future, such as hydrogen fuel cells. By creating a viable use case and demand for hydrogen, in the near term, hydrogen infrastructure build-out can be accelerated and scale production of vehicle storage tanks increased. Both advances are necessary for the widespread adoption of fuel cell powertrains.

Built on decades of experience and as a major player in natural gas engines worldwide, Cummins has an inherent advantage in getting this program off the ground. There is significant reuse of appropriate engine components, which drives economies of scale, while also providing reliability and durability equal to diesel.

All-new engine platforms for enhanced cooling

But it’s also important to note that with decades of experience in spark-ignited engines comes the knowledge that can be harnessed to bring differentiating technology to the forefront. For example, Cummins’ hydrogen-fueled engine development program plans to utilize all-new engine platforms that offer flexible overhead cam systems, improved cooling, and reduced friction which aims to achieve a more efficient and higher power density product.

These platforms are being developed to avoid the performance limitations and other compromises associated with converting modern diesel or natural gas engines over to hydrogen fuel. 

Advanced optimized combustion chamber

Cummins, Inc. has also designed an advanced optimized combustion chamber for fuel mixing

In addition, Cummins, Inc. has also designed an advanced optimized combustion chamber for fuel mixing, charge motion, and turbulence generation that the company believes is critical for fast hydrogen combustion, in order to maximize power density and efficiency.

It’s also important to note that this combustion system will synergize with our next-generation high power density, high-efficiency natural gas engines. Early testing on these and other advanced solutions are quickly validating Cummins’ expectations.

What's next for Hydrogen ICE development

The next step in the hydrogen engine innovation is to match the performance capability of the powertrain, with the applications most struggling to find viable zero-carbon solutions, in the near term. Hydrogen ICEs will create a new and attractive solution, where high load factors and high equipment utilization are critical to customers.

With a wave of excitement and possibilities on the horizon, the hydrogen-fueled engine development program has the potential to expand the customers’ powertrain of choice. Taking on significant challenges is nothing new to Cummins. The company has been doing just that for over a century, and innovation is in their DNA.

Improvements in fuel efficiency

Over the last 25 years alone, Cummins, Inc. has achieved remarkable reductions in engines’ criteria NOx and particulate matter (PM) emissions. Improvements in fuel efficiency have also been impressive and a corresponding decrease in CO2 emissions.

Now, over the next few years, ther hydrogen-fueled engine development program will take on the challenge of delivering zero-carbon fuel, while retaining all the performance attributes that the customers have come to expect from Cummins. Add this to the company’s already diverse set of technologies available, the path towards the mass adoption of more environmentally sustainable solutions is within reach.