Hydrogen engine paves way for net-zero targets

Power technology provider Cummins released its zero-carbon hydrogen internal combustion engine (H2-ICE) concept truck, powered by the B6.7H hydrogen engine, at this year’s International Automobile Exhibition transportation conference, which was held from September 20 to 23 in Hannover, Germany.

The engine is expected to be released for mass production in 2027, but is going to be produced on a limited scale from 2023.

The H2-ICE shares similar components to that of diesel engines, such as the cylinder heads, which are the same.

“By leveraging our current supply chain and the components thereof, we can incorporate a stealth economy into our products, which, in turn, reduces the amount of capital required to ramp up this technology,” explains Cummins new power director Alan Zhao.

While the H2-ICE creates minimal disruptions to existing structures in diesel engines, Zhao says the main difference between the hydrogen engine and the diesel engine is that the H2-ICE is fuel agnostic, which will help the company achieve its goal of zero emissions by 2050.

At Cummins, the fuel-agnostic concept refers specifically tolow-carbon and zero-carbon fuels, including hydrogen, natural gas, propane, clean diesel, and so on.

Further, to ensure that the engines supplied by Cummins for trucks and buses are in line with the company’s net-zero goals, the company continuously innovates and improves its products to reduce emissions.

Cummins is focussing on three phases to achieve its net-zero goals: the present, the transition period and the future.

The company’s yearly sustainability report for 2021 notes that it has set targets for 2030 as part of its Planet 2050 environmental sustainability strategy.

These include addressing climate change and carbon emissions, having a positive impact on the environment and using natural resources in sustainable ways. Zhao enthuses that the company is on track to meet these goals.

However, he says the majority of existing fuelling stations are diesel, and establishing the infrastructure for hydrogen fuelling stations can be challenging.

Major participation by all stakeholders in the ecosystem is needed to establish the infrastructure.

Hence, Cummins is leveraging its hydrogen electrolyser technology by working with its partners to build onsite hydrogen generation for fuelling stations. This will, in turn, lessen the reliance on transporting hydrogen to fuelling stations, thus making hydrogen more readily available.

Additionally, the company is introducing technology to aid hydrogen storage units that are lighter and higher in pressure to extend the range of vehicles.