Cummins wins funding to develop new hydrogen engine
Cummins has been awarded £14.6million, from the government-backed Brunel project, to develop a new hydrogen engine. Funding has been awarded through the Advanced Propulsion Centre’s Collaborative R&D competition, which backs businesses developing green automotive technology.
Jonathan Atkinson, executive director of Cummins on-highway business in Europe, says “This project will significantly accelerate the pace of hydrogen engine development, ensuring that the UK is at the vanguard of this exciting new technology which will play a significant part in de-carbonising the global commercial vehicle fleet.”
Lord Grimstone, minister for investment, adds: “The Brunel Project is carrying on Darlington’s long tradition of skilled engineering which will continue to grow for many years to come. We are working to build back better and greener after the pandemic and government investment in this scheme will help secure a better future for the next generation.”
“The project provides further proof that the UK is leading the world in the cutting-edge, green technology that will help us leave petrol and diesel behind and achieve net zero by 2050.”
The project is one of four to be awarded funding through the competition, which provides grants for research and development that helps the automotive sector make its low carbon transition.
Ian Constance, APC chief executive, says: “These projects tackle some really important challenges in the journey to net-zero.
“They address range anxiety and cost which can be barriers to people making the switch to electric vehicles and they also provide potential solutions to the challenge of how we decarbonise public transport and the movement of goods.
“By investing in this innovation, we’re taking these technologies closer to the point where they are commercially viable, which will strengthen the UK’s automotive supply chain, safeguard or create jobs and reduce harmful greenhouse emissions.”