America has destroyed the hype surrounding hydrogen worldwide. This new engine is a 15 liter, emission free move away from the reliance on fossil fuels. With the majority of the automotive market focused on the electrification of modern day transport, an american company has produced an engine powered by natural gas. If we think back to a time before electric cars and the concept of hydrogen power, natural gas was seen as the way forward. With a range of automotive companies exploring ways to power their engines using natural, renewable gas.
Can America once again lead the way forward in the automotive industry?
The company that has developed the new engine is Cummins. The American outfit fitted their engines to a range of Kenworth Trucks. These new trucks have since been leased to PacLease, a company that leases the trucks out to waste management businesses. Pennsylvania has been the latest American state to see these revolutionary trucks on their roads.
Bousum Trucking in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania leased eight Kenworth trucks featuring the Cummins X15N CNG engine. This development is a “game changer” according to Liam Tanelli, CFO of Bousum Trucking. The trucks will emit zero emissions, a huge change from the current diesel powered engines dominating the large scale hauling market.
A move away from traditional engines is not only good for the environment, but could also prove to be a financial master stroke. According to the manufacturer, the new engines not only produce zero emissions, but have consistently outperformed their gasoline powered counterparts. And the company has data to prove their claims, having submitted the findings to the relevant governing body for authentication.
Can the world embrace the natural gas revolution and leave hydrogen behind?
What makes the new engine different is what powers it. The fuel is known as “CNG” or Condensed Natural Gas. This means that the fuel is made from condensing natural gas like methane into less than 1 percent of its natural density. The fuel is therefore a natural gas and can be produced by recycling human waste. This really is a game changer as the fuel is completely emission free and far superior than other types of fuels.
This also means that the major car makers of the world are refocusing their investments within their respective research and development departments in an effort to keep up with the pace of change and innovation currently experienced with these types of new engines. With the amazing emission and fuel consumption numbers, the Cummins X15N CNG Engine is due to revolutionise the industry. And it has begun to do so already in America.
The fuel is produced by condensing methane, a process found all over the world in many shapes and forms such as recycling human waste. This means the fuel could be easily accessible as is the case with Bousum Trucking and Chambersburg. The trucks are able to refuel on their daily trips at solar powered stations that sell the fuel. Not to mention getting financial grants from institutions promoting zero emissions.
Is this the beginning of the end for the current engines ruling the automotive market?
With the EV market unstable to say the least, the introduction of this new type of engine could be the beginning of America accepting a zero emission truck on their roads. With feedback and data from tests and drivers, the engine is all set for large scale usage and could change the way we haul big loads forever. With the added financial return using the trucks, hauling businesses can save money in the long run. With the engine using either CNG, RNG(Renewable Natural Gas) or LNG(Liquified Natural Gas) the earth could have some time to heal from the industrial revolution.
