Funding boost for Cummins hydrogen plans
Cummins is planning to move ahead with its hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engine (H2-ICE) programme with the development of a medium-duty 6.7-litre and a heavy-duty 15-litre engine. The new hydrogen engines will aim to achieve zero carbon emissions, enhanced power density and improved thermal efficiency.
The engine development work has received a £7.2 million award from the UK Government through the Advanced Propulsion Centre.
Planned development of the 6.7-litre hydrogen engine will focus on medium-duty truck, bus, and construction applications, such as excavators and wheel loaders. A new 15-litre platform offers the potential to bring hydrogen gas-fuelled engine capability to long-haul trucks with up to 44-ton gross vehicle weight and other heavy-duty applications.
The APC estimates that successful execution of the Cummins H2-ICE project could reduce more than 11 million tons of carbon emissions annually, equivalent to the emissions of 2.4 million cars in the UK.
UK minister for investment Lord Grimstone says: “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.”
Cummins European Technical Centre at the Darlington facility will oversee a consortium of leading sub-system manufacturers in the UK to achieve commercial viability for H2-ICE.
The estimated £14.6million cost of the H2-ICE technical readiness project will be funded by the APC award of £7.2million and additional investment by Cummins and industry partners.
“Confirmation of the strategic support awarded by APC is excellent news for Cummins and our world-class research and development facility at Darlington UK as it will accelerate the pace of our hydrogen engine development,” says Antonio Leitao, vice president, Cummins Europe.