In order not to let the combustion engine market die, as well as the “Team Japan” alliance of Japanese manufacturers Toyota, Subaru, Mazda, Kawasaki and Yamaha, Cummins is doing its part by developing the first engine in the world capable of accepting all types of fuels  

The internal combustion engine had its glory days, but the journey is about to end with the onset of the electric vehicle era. Since that became clear, the automotive industry, as well as the big oil companies, have fought to save the combustion engine and everything that comes with it. In the latest play, Cummins announced an internal combustion engine that can basically run on any fuel.

Cummins stands out with its new engine that accepts any fossil fuel

Cummins is one of the biggest players in the field of internal combustion engines and has recently announced plans to move to hydrogen. There are challenges ahead as hydrogen burns differently than other fuels. That's why Cummins designed a combustion chamber optimized for fuel mixing, charge movement and engine turbulence generation.

Beginning in 2024, Cummins will apply fuel-independent technologies across its X, L and B Series engine platforms. The diesel, natural gas and hydrogen internal combustion engine offerings are intended to help transition to zero emission engines.

Depending on the type of fuel these engines will be more or less clean, but that doesn't change the fact that internal combustion engines have a low intrinsic efficiency. And, of course, any gas burns will release NOx and harmful particles into the atmosphere.

Cummins official announcement

Cummins has announced details of what it calls the world's first lineup of fuel agnostic engines. The plan employs common engine blocks and other key components, while variations in cylinder head specifications allow the engines to run on different fuel types, including diesel, natural gas and hydrogen.

This new Cummins design approach will be applied across the company's three major engine portfolios, the B, L and X-Series. The B Series architecture includes the 6.7L ISB turbo, used in the Ram 2500 and 3500 HD pickups. The Cummins L and X-Series engine portfolios are used for buses, motorhomes, semi-trucks and construction equipment, among other applications.

In making the announcement, Srikanth Padmanabhan, president of Cummins' engine business, said: "We believe that for the next 40 years, internal combustion engines will still be there as a transitional technology before we reach that zero destination."

Fuel Independent – ​​Engines will run 

Cummins promises that regardless of fuel type, its next generation of B, L and X series engines will still be capable of delivering diesel-like performance.

Stellantis recently announced plans for a hydrogen-powered Ram HD pickup truck before the end of the decade. It's unclear if the company plans to work with Cummins to offer a hydrogen-powered inline 6 B series alongside the diesel version of the popular engine, or if the company is planning to pursue a hydrogen fuel cell electric drive solution. .

“Going to zero is not a light switch event. The carbon emissions we put into the atmosphere today will have a lasting impact. This means that anything we can do to start reducing our carbon footprint today is a win for the planet. We need to act now,” said Srikanth Padmanabhan, President of Cummins Engine Business.