Our hydrogen technology differs in a big way from others.

Nitin Jirafe, Engine Business Leader, Cummins India

What are the new technologies showcased at Excon 2023?

We have displayed a few advanced products at this Excon. In the diesel range, we have showcased new products in 10 litre and 15 litre capacity. The M15 and L10 are the latest generation diesel engines based on fuel-agnostic platform with electronic fuel system. The L10 has advanced overhead cam design and class leading power density and efficiency.

We are also showcasing the hydrogen internal combustion engine which is a breakthrough product. Our hydrogen technology differs in a big way from what other OEMs are trying to do. There are two technologies in hydrogen internal combustion engine, one is the port injection and the other is direct injection (DI). The DI is a very complex technology but gives you a diesel like performance and they are also safe like diesel engine. We have completed both tasks of being equivalent to diesel and we don’t compromise on power density. As we speak, our engines are already in the test cell, and we are working on other production in early 2026. We call them fuel-agnostic.

The fuel-agnostic architecture utilizes a common base engine with cylinder heads and fuel systems specifically tailored to fuel ranging from diesel, natural gas, renewable natural gas, and hydrogen. The platform offers OEMs common engine architecture across multiple fuel types, resulting in commonality for many parts.

With the evolution of hydrogen technology, how do you view the availability of hydrogen for these engines?

Hydrogen availability or hydrogen ecosystem will build over a period of time. We, as a nation have big plans on hydrogen. The Government is bullish on production of hydrogen in commercial scale and become the first country that would be exporting hydrogen. Incidentally, Cummins is also there in electrolysers, a technology which produces green hydrogen. We are also advocating with the Government as when it comes, we want to be there. The launch of National Green Hydrogen Mission by Government of India is a remarkable initiative towards making greener choices for our future and we at Cummins India are deeply committed to contribute towards it.

How are your products and technologies supporting in building India’s tomorrow?

Cummins has been supporting nation building in a big way. In India, our rich history spans more than six decades, marked by the successful integration of our global and local technological expertise across a diverse range of off-highway applications. We remain committed and focused on delivering tailored, innovative solutions to cater to the local market and diverse customer needs. This dedication drives us to develop fit for market products - that are not just robust and reliable but also competitively positioned. Our product portfolio ranges from 4 liter to 15 liter engines to cover the wide variety of construction and agricultural equipment.  We deliver exceptional performance and low operating costs, with the best-in-class reliability and durability expected from Cummins. Backed by our brand promise of dependability, our strong distribution network is our strategic advantage that gives us the scale to provide aftermarket support and parts in the remotest areas. These factors have made Cummins the preferred choice for customers in construction and infrastructure segment over the last six decades. That is how we contribute to nation building.

How do you see the opportunities for Cummins?

If you look at the construction equipment powered by Cummins, we are gaining various market segments significantly because we are present in all the horsepower segments. We have the best products to offer, and we are the company who is bringing in new products in the market. I talked about the 8.5 and 10 litre range that would enter the construction equipment market. We are also now working on our 6.7 litre range for construction equipment which will be ready in mid next year and there are already customers lined up. We will continue to build our portfolio for construction equipment and the new OEMs will continue to adopt our engine. What will keep us in the game as a prominent player is our highly efficient and reliable product portfolio and our extensive pan India distribution network.

How is sustainability playing a major role in your products and applications?

Sustainability is at the core of Cummins, not only in India but globally. Globally we have acquired Hydrogenics, a developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products based on water electrolysis. Accelera is a Cummins brand which is an energy technology company that provides low-to zero-emission solutions to power the world with clean energy. We are coming up in a big way globally as well as in India with hydrogen ICE and we are already in the process of setting up a Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2ICE) plant in Jamshedpur. We have signed an MoU with Jharkhand Government to manufacture all these technologies under one roof. We are aggressively pursuing the sustainability target for us, and we want to be carbon neutral by 2050.

How do you visualise the years ahead?

The year 2024 is going to be exciting for us and we are participating in Excon because this is where we get to display our product range and meet our customers. I am pretty confident that 2024 is going to be full of development works which will eventually get converted into real time solution in the market in 2025.