Cummins is a top maker of heavy-duty diesel engines but the company is gearing up for a zero-emissions future with big plans to supply hydrogen-electric power systems and electrolyzers that make the clean fuel. And while its core market is trucks, trains and buses look like a bigger commercial opportunity in the near term.

The Columbus, Indiana-based manufacturer, which supplies diesel engines for boats, heavy-duty pickups, delivery vehicles, buses and semis, laid out a comprehensive strategy in its “Hydrogen Day” presentation, covering its production of fuel cells, stationary power systems, fuel tanks and electrolyzers to help companies make their own hydrogen. Cummins is testing hydrogen-powered big rigs, but expects both transit operators and steelmakers needing to lower their carbon emissions to be the best early markets, Chairman and CEO Tom Linebarger tells Forbes.

Cummins’ intensified focus on hydrogen comes as investment into the elemental fuel surges across the transportation industry. Zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell cars from Toyota, Honda, Daimler and Hyundai have been on the road for more than a decade, but the rise of battery-electric cars, championed by Elon Musk and Tesla, and limited number of hydrogen fuel stations has made the technology less compelling for passenger vehicles. However, the lower weight and rapid refueling time that hydrogen fuel cell power systems offer relative to batteries have made them increasingly appealing for heavy-duty vehicles. Multibillion-dollar plans are taking shape in that industry, led by Toyota, Hyundai, Daimler and startup Nikola, and Cummins sees a big opportunity to be a key supplier.

Source: Forbes