Hydrogen combustion engines lean on current internal-combustion know-how, however they nonetheless require some technical tweaks for max effectivity.
Engine maker Cummins not too long ago unveiled a turbocharger designed for hydrogen engines, which burn gaseous hydrogen as a substitute of gasoline or diesel. Referred to as the CCS H2 ICE, the turbo helps compensate for the decrease power density and better airflow wants of hydrogen in comparison with fossil fuels, in line with a Cummins press launch.
Hydrogen burns cleaner then gasoline or diesel, but it surely nonetheless produces some dangerous standards pollution—like nitrogen oxide (NOx), which Cummins is accustomed to. In 2024 the corporate agreed to pay a virtually $1.7 billion fantastic to settle a federal case by which it was accused of emissions dishonest with diesel engines in Ram pickup vehicles.
2025 Ram Heavy Responsibility
The next-airflow lean burn is crucial to minimizing NOx emissions in hydrogen combustion engines, in line with Cummins, as is decreasing turbo lag. The latter is prompted when the turbo takes too lengthy to construct up enhance, leaving to a delay between accelerator press and energy supply.
Extra exact management of the turbocharger will help ship on these necessities. A number of choices exist for this, however for the CCS H2 ICE, Cummins selected a variable-geometry design with adjustable nozzles that may change airflow via the turbo on demand.
Peterbilt semi truck prototype with Cummins hydrogen combustion engine
Cummins gave indications it was going robust on EVs at one level, but it surely’s pulled again from what was hinted in these earlier ideas lately. It has been emphasizing hydrogen combustion as a substitute, exhibiting a prototype hydrogen combustion engine in a Peterbilt semi truck in 2023.
Whereas this new mission is positioned to emphasize European fleets first, it may be utilized in U.S. vehicles—with the supporting infrastructure, in fact.
Cummins is not the one firm investing in hydrogen inside combustion. Bosch has additionally made it part of its hydrogen investments, alongside gasoline cells. Toyota is each hydrogen applied sciences was nicely, conducting hydrogen-combustion demonstration initiatives whereas persevering with to develop a fuel-cell powertrain backed by giant batteries for semi vehicles and—the automaker has teased—probably heavy-duty pickups as nicely.