Cummins goes electric

Big diesel manufacturer reveals operational electric truck

In a surprise move, Cummins has stolen the thunder from the likes of Tesla and other electric tuck wannabes by revealing its own electric prime mover.

The fully-electric ‘demonstration’ prime mover was revealed in Columbus, Indiana yesterday (August 29).

Called the Aeos, the 4x2 day cab features high-energy lithium-ion battery power with zero emissions, and boasts a range of 160km on a single charge.

Current charge time is one hour with plug-in to a 140kWh charging station, which Cummins hopes to shorten to 20 minutes by 2020.

Intended for vocational applications such as urban delivery and terminal container handling, the Aeos is built by Roush with a design inspired by Cummins.

At the launch, chief technical officer for Cummins, Jennifer Rumsey said: “These new technological innovations build on our 100-year legacy of bringing the best solutions to our customers, driving their success and meeting the evolving demands of their industries and markets.

“We will harness our global technical footprint to continue to develop a wide variety of power technologies to bring our customers the choice and solutions that enable their success and contribute to a sustainable future.”

Cummins said it will also continue to invest in its diesel engine offerings, as well as natural gas and other alternative fuels.

The Aeos, named after one of the winged horses hauling the chariot of the Sun God, Helios, across the sky in Greek mythology, is just a concept at this stage but Cummins said it’s fully operational and capable of hauling a 22-tonne trailer.

Production of the powertrain is said to begin in 2019 and an extended range version, which uses a small diesel engine as an on-board generator, will be available a year later, offering up to 300 miles (480km) between charges and 50 per cent fuel savings compared to today’s diesel hybrids.

Cummins' announcement comes a few weeks ahead of Tesla's planned reveal of its electric "semi" truck. While Tesla hasn't released any details of its truck, last week Reuters reported that the plug-in car maker will apparently target the regional hauling market with an electric big-rig with a working range of 300-500km.

By getting a jump on Tesla's announcement, Cummins is telling the automotive world that it intends to remain a major player in the commercial truck business, even if that market shifts away from its core diesel engine business.

Cummins said it has been working on electrified powertrains and fuel cells for about a decade, and feels confident it is well-positioned to remain a leader, despite competition from new players like Tesla and Nikola.

Julie Furber, executive director of Cummins’ Electrified Power Business, said the truck is weight-neutral compared to a diesel-powered truck but features greater performance and zero emissions.

She added that Cummins isn’t interested in becoming a truck manufacturer but is keen to work with partner OEMs in supplying and developing electric powertrains.

Cummins goes electric

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