How does the Cummins Fuel-Agnostic Engine Work?
What is the Cummins fuel-agnostic engine and how does it work?
In 2022, Cummins released the news that an industry-first, ‘fuel-agnostic’ engine was in the works for heavy duty machinery, including excavators, wheel loaders, drilling rigs, road planning machinery, milling machines, haul trucks and air compressors.
Essentially, the all-new fuel-agnostic engine works by offering OEMs and users a common engine base which is compatible with different components for different fuel types. The engine base and below the head of the gasket remains the same for each fuel type, while the components above the head of the gasket differ depending on whether diesel, natural gas or hydrogen is used. Cummins says that this innovative step forward in heavy duty engine development will be applied to their renowned B, L and X-series engines.
Cummins’ 15 litre fuel-agnostic engine is an example of this new technology. The heavy-duty engine uses cylinder heads and fuel systems that are compatible with both carbon-free hydrogen or biogas, with ratings of up to 530 hp for the former, and 510 hp for the latter. An advanced diesel version also exists for heavier-duty applications, which can run on sustainable HVO fuel or biodiesel.
What are the benefits of the Cummins fuel-agnostic engine for OEMs and end users?
The Cummins fuel-agnostic engine comes with a range of benefits for OEMs and end users of heavy-duty machinery.
Lower emissions
The main benefit offered by the development of fuel-agnostic engines is the reduced greenhouse emissions. Part of Cummins’ long-term strategy is to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of their engines, with the hope of achieving net-zero emission status by 2050. Fuel-agnostic engines are a huge step forward to achieving this goal, and they are helping businesses within the construction and heavy-duty industries meet their own emission targets, too.
Commonality of parts
One of the main advantages of the new fuel-agnostic engines as advertised by Cummins themselves is the commonality of parts used within the engines. This is particularly beneficial for truck OEMs and users as it enables the simplified integration of different fuel types, whether that be diesel, natural gas or hydrogen, across the same truck chassis.
Having a common engine footprint also leads to cost savings when it comes to training technicians and updating Cummins service locations too, because of the similarity in engine parts below the head of the gasket and the relative ease of changing out parts to match the fuel used.
Combustion and Thermal Efficiency
Cummins’ fuel-agnostic engines are designed in a way which improves the combustion and thermal efficiency compared to traditional diesel engines. The design includes a Double Overhead Camshaft (DOHC), which improves the performance and torque of the engine through increased air intake.
What does the fuel-agnostic engine mean for the future of the OEM and construction industries?
Cummins’ fuel-agnostic engine marks a huge step forward for the OEM and construction industries, as well as other engine giants looking to make their sustainable engine debut. Cummins themselves say that they’re ‘’innovating at every level of the company to find new ways of working that use fewer of the world’s resources and the Engine Business is at the centre of this exciting innovation’’.
With the development of Cummins’ fuel-agnostic engine, OEMs and users can expect similar product releases from other industry leaders, with decarbonisation of the heavy machinery sector being the end goal, with minimal or zero performance or durability losses.
Have you read our article on our predictions for heavy machinery this year? Alongside the emergence of Cummins’ fuel-agnostic engine, investment into hydrogen fuel cell technology and battery powered construction machinery is also increasing, with the aim of improving sustainability within the construction and mining sectors.
We supply a range of Cummins parts for construction machinery at Jaytrac, so please do get in touch with any enquiries if you’re in need of Cummins replacement parts. Fill out a contact form with details of your enquiry, or reach us on +44 (0) 1604 491133 or at sales@jaytrac.co.uk.