Cummins Diesel Engine Turns to Batteries and Hydrogen Energy

Cummins is developing battery power and hydrogen fuel cell power transmission systems for trucks, commercial vehicles, railways and potential aircraft.

Cummins is developing battery power and hydrogen fuel cell power transmission systems for trucks, commercial vehicles, railways and potential aircraft. Image source: Cummins Inc.

Cummins, a century-old manufacturer of diesel and other fossil fuel truck engines, seems unlikely to participate in the United Nations Climate Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland. But CEO Tom Linebarger told industrial partners and customers at the scene this week that the company is working hard to help them switch to low-carbon and carbon-free vehicles powered by batteries and hydrogen.

As the market share of electric passenger vehicles in the United States, Europe, and China continues to increase, people’s attention has begun to shift to larger and more electrified commercial vehicles, including semi-truck, construction and mining vehicles, as well as trains, ships and airplane. Linebarger told Forbes that at present, there is no electric drive system that can easily adapt to light and heavy vehicles, so it is necessary to use both drive systems at the same time.

Cummins CEO and Chairman Tom Linebarger Source: Cummins