Cummins develops hydrogen combustion engine for trucks and buses

Cummins has developed a new hydrogen combustion engine for commercial vehicles in partnership with key technology partners.

The 6.7-litre powertrain delivers a more than 99% reduction in tailpipe carbon emissions and ultra-low NOx, compared to the current diesel engine standard.

Named ‘Project Brunel’, the project was match-funded by UK Government, and facilitated by the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC). Johnson Matthey, PHINIA and Zircotec were the project partners.

Jonathan Atkinson, executive director - Product Strategy at Cummins, said: “Project Brunel highlights the power of collaboration between industry leaders and underscores our ongoing commitment to industry decarbonisation.

“This project has successfully delivered a viable, familiar power option that meets the operating requirements of today’s commercial vehicles - with zero-carbon fuel, and without the need for a complete vehicle redesign. This is a major achievement for Cummins Darlington, and for the UK’s hydrogen technology leadership.

“We hope the Government recognises this technology’s potential for commercial vehicles beyond 2035 and 2040, to align regulation with other major global markets.”

While the 6.7-litre engine was developed for medium-duty vehicles, the design is scalable to heavy-duty applications, including non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) such as construction and agricultural equipment. Cummins is already developing a 15-litre hydrogen internal combustion engine for heavy-duty vehicles.