Diesel engine manufacturer Cummins Inc. agreed to work with industrial-gas supplier Air Products & Chemicals to accelerate the integration of hydrogen fuel cell trucks, in the North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Cummins will provide hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrains integrated into selected heavy-duty trucks in support of Air Products’ efforts to convert its fleet of distribution vehicles to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Air Products plans to convert its global fleet of approximately 2,000 trucks to hydrogen fuel cell zero-emission vehicles. The demonstration phase of that project will begin in 2022.
Cummins and Air Products also agreed to work together to increase the accessibility of renewable hydrogen.
“This is another turning point for hydrogen and the energy transition,” stated Cummins chairman and CEO Tom Linebarger. “As we develop the technologies of tomorrow, we need the partnership of others to be successful, and this partnership with Air Products is the next step in leading the industry on the path to a zero-emissions future.”
The new “memo of understanding” follows an agreement by Cummins with Chevron USA Inc. to explore business opportunities in hydrogen and other alternative energy sources.
Chevron and Cummins identified four objectives: advancing public policy to promote hydrogen as a decarbonizing solution for transportation and industry; building market demand for commercial vehicles and industrial applications powered by hydrogen; developing infrastructure to support the use of hydrogen for industry and fuel cell vehicles; and exploring opportunities to leverage Cummins electrolyzer and fuel cell technologies at Chevron’s domestic refineries.
