Cummins Leads Project Brunel: A Milestone in Hydrogen Engine Development
Key Ideas
- Cummins Inc. and its partners celebrate the completion of Project Brunel, introducing a 6.7-litre hydrogen internal combustion engine for medium-duty trucks and buses.
- The project, supported by the UK Government and Advanced Propulsion Centre UK, showcases significant advancements in reducing carbon emissions and NOx compared to current diesel engines.
- Hydrogen internal combustion engine technology is positioned as a promising solution for heavier-duty or longer-range applications in commercial vehicles, facilitating industry decarbonisation and air quality improvements.
- The project's success reflects collaborative efforts, technological innovation, and a commitment to furthering hydrogen technology leadership in the UK beyond 2035 and 2040.
Cummins Inc. and its technology partners recently celebrated the successful completion of Project Brunel, a collaborative effort to develop hydrogen internal combustion engine technology for commercial vehicles. Led by Cummins and supported by companies like Johnson Matthey, PHINIA, and Zircotec, the project aimed to deliver a 6.7-litre hydrogen internal combustion engine for medium-duty trucks and buses. The project, which received matching funding from the UK Government through the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK, achieved significant milestones in enhancing H2-ICE engine performance and durability. By utilizing zero-carbon hydrogen fuel and advanced after-treatment systems, the engine demonstrated over a 99% reduction in tailpipe carbon emissions and ultra-low NOx levels compared to current diesel engines.
The event held at Cummins' Darlington facility highlighted the key learnings from Project Brunel, emphasizing the efficiency, performance, and emissions reduction potential of H2-ICE technology for commercial vehicles. With a focus on industry decarbonisation, the project showcased the scalability of the 6.7-litre engine design to heavy-duty applications, offering a pathway for decarbonizing non-road mobile machinery as well.
Moreover, the successful collaboration underscored the importance of industry partnerships in driving technological innovation and promoting hydrogen technology leadership. Leaders from Cummins, Johnson Matthey, PHINIA, and Zircotec expressed optimism about the commercial viability of H2-ICE technology and its role in accelerating the decarbonisation journey for vehicle operators. The project's impact extended to creating high-value manufacturing opportunities in the UK and fostering a competitive export business in the hydrogen engine sector.
Overall, Project Brunel not only demonstrated the readiness of hydrogen internal combustion engine technology as a near net-zero solution for medium and heavy-duty transport but also highlighted the critical role of cooperation, government support, and industry investment in advancing decarbonisation efforts.