October 22, 2023
Cummins®, Columbus, Ind., has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Terex® Advance Mixer, Fort Wayne, Ind., a subsidiary of Terex Corp.; Edge Materials, Cloverdale, Ind.; and PCC Hydrogen, Louisville, Ky., to produce, trial and prove concrete mixer trucks powered by Cummins’ zero-carbon, hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engines.
The project aims to develop a full hydrogen ecosystem together with a hydrogen producer, vehicle manufacturer and end user. It is the first MoU of its kind signed by Cummins.
The four companies will unite their efforts, which will see Cummins’ X15H hydrogen internal combustion engines integrated into the Terex Advance Commander Series of front-discharge concrete mixer trucks. Edge Materials, a ready-mix concrete provider and Terex Advance customers will operate the hydrogen-powered trucks in challenging real-world environments including on construction sites and critical infrastructure projects. PCC Hydrogen, an ultra-low carbon intensity hydrogen producer, will supply the hydrogen fuel as well as stationary storage and dispensing services.
“While Cummins is investing in a range of power options to support decarbonization, hydrogen internal combustion engines are emerging as a key technology to eliminate carbon emissions from heavy-duty sectors, while retaining the power density and operational range typical of diesel engines,” said Jim Nebergall, general manager – hydrogen engines, Cummins. “This collaboration represents an end-to-end demonstration of how hydrogen internal combustion engines work practically in tough applications using real trucks, real infrastructure and real end users.”
Aligned with Destination Zero™ — Cummins’ strategy to reduce the greenhouse gas and air quality impacts of its products — the four companies said their collaboration will spearhead a complete and viable approach to decarbonizing mixer trucks without impacting vehicle performance.
David Grabner, general manager, Terex Advance Mixer, said, “Customers expect Terex Advance concrete mixer trucks to deliver consistent and high-quality concrete efficiently and reliably, while also minimizing environmental impact through reduced emissions and fuel consumption. Decarbonizing concrete mixer trucks, however, can be difficult due to the energy demands and long operational hours. This project marks a significant milestone in our decarbonization journey, as Cummins’ X15H engines introduce an alternative, zero-carbon emissions option for our customers, while providing the performance our trucks need to get the job done.”
Using internal combustion engine technology, Cummins’ hydrogen engines use zero-carbon hydrogen fuel rather than traditional diesel. They are similar in architecture to today’s diesel and natural gas-powered engines, offering heavier-duty, longer range applications a route to decarbonize without major changes to vehicle designs and at a lower upfront cost than current zero-carbon alternatives, the company said.
“We are excited to be facilitating the combined efforts of Cummins, Terex Advance and PCC Hydrogen to demonstrate a real-life carbon reduction system for concrete delivery. As industries are looking for ways to reduce carbon emissions, we will be aligning our pioneering efforts utilizing the X15H engine in front-discharge concrete mixer trucks to show that hydrogen technology is a viable alternative fuel for demanding on- and off-highway environments,” said Dana Boyd, president, Edge Materials.
