The world may be moving toward electric vehicles, but commercial-size trucks still don’t have an electric answer. Instead of just focusing on electric vehicles, large trucks could possibly use hydrogen to become zero-emission vehicles and offer the power needed for heavy workloads. It might be time for a line of hydrogen-powered Cummins engines to replace the diesel engines currently on offer.
What’s so special about a Cummins engine?
Early versions of Cummins diesel engines were built for heavy commercial duty. These engines are durable, reliable and powerful, giving fleet operators engines they can trust to handle their toughest workload. These engines are ideal for the most strenuous and demanding work on some of the toughest jobsites.
Hydrogen has the right mix of qualities for large trucks
A new line of Cummins engines that uses hydrogen instead of diesel will reduce harmful pollutants to a non-existent level. muscle cars and trucks tells us that Cummins is developing a new powertrain that uses the H2 molecule. Could we see hydrogen-powered Ram HD trucks still carry the Cummins name?
Has this motoring name put its money where its mouth is?
Cummins not only supplies the diesel engines found in Ram HD trucks, but also builds engines used for various makes of commercial trucks and builds power generators. In a recent announcement, Cummins announced plans for a new 500-megawatt electrolyzer facility in Fridley, Minnesota, to produce hydrogen gas. This facility will only run on renewable energy, making it a carbon neutral facility.
How does the Cummins hydrogen engine work?
We could be much closer to seeing the 6.7-litre Cummins diesel engine become the B6.7H model, which will be the hydrogen version of this engine. This new engine can replace many diesel models and maintain working numbers.
With the transition to a hydrogen internal combustion engine, a new truck offers the same performance, cargo capacity and payload as the diesel-powered truck. You can learn more about this in the following Cummins video.
How much power could this new engine offer?
The new 6.7-liter hydrogen engine is rated at 290 horsepower and 886 pound-feet of torque. This power output is similar to what we see in the 6.7-liter Cummins diesel engine, which produces incredible levels of torque.
This new hydrogen engine offers plenty of power to replace diesel models in medium-duty trucks and can be easily integrated with existing diesel powertrain components. This could make it one of the easiest replacements in the entire automotive market.
Could it be greener to produce hydrogen for this Cummins engine?
Most battery-powered electric vehicles still use energy obtained from burning fossil fuels. This is something most eco-conscious people want to get away from. Hydrogen can be produced through electrolysis by using electricity from solar panels and wind turbines. This would really reduce the carbon footprint of a vehicle and allow for real CO2 free driving.
Are hydrogen emissions not entirely clean?
There is a possibility that hydrogen engines could release some NOx into the atmosphere, but this can be eliminated by using aftermarket systems similar to those currently used by most diesel vehicles. If the United States converts commercial and heavy-duty trucks to hydrogen, that would eliminate nearly 25% of all greenhouse gas emissions.
A new line of Cummins hydrogen engines could quickly replace the diesel engines found in most heavy-duty and commercial trucks. This could be a big step towards protecting our environment and using alternative fuels for commercial trucks.
Check out the only Ram pickup without a Cummins diesel engine below, or learn more about the new Cummins hydrogen engine in the video below: