In a world furiously searching for the next alternative fuel source, this fuel has remained relatively untapped and has been forgotten by the automotive world. Thanks to a new engine from a reliable source, that will soon be a thing of the past. Tesla amazed and astounded the world when it released its first car, the Roadster. Now that Tesla has fallen on hard times, thanks in no small part to its CEO, the market is open for other engine manufacturers to fill the gap in the alternative fuel sector.
What are my options as far as alternative fuel for my engine?
Gone are the days when the only fuel one could use for one’s engine was gasoline. The manufacturing sector has exploded as a result of the digital revolution, and the automotive sector in particular is covered in alternative fuels. Gasoline and diesel have served the human race well, and the industrial revolution propelled us further than ever thought before, all thanks to the internal combustion engine.
While gasoline and diesel will always be a part of our lives in some form. The electric motor has risen from the ashes of the digital revolution to become the most popular option for the world’s climate-conscious car buyer. Tesla and BYD have become immensely successful and profitable as a result of the world’s warm embrace of the electric motor.
The alternative fuel sector has seen significant improvements and investments that have led to some automotive manufacturers investing massive resources into the sector. Hydrogen has proven to be a viable option in the alternative fuel sector. However, the lack of infrastructure and investments has hindered the progress of the hydrogen engine. So the world is left to wonder, what else is there that has not been explored fully?
What exactly is the most ignored fuel in the history of the automotive sector?
The answer to that question is easy: the most ignored fuel source in history has got to be renewable natural gas (RNG). The RNG sector has so much potential to revolutionize the automotive sector, as the infrastructure already exists. The United States has an incredible 300,000 miles of inter- and intrastate natural gas pipelines, that’s without the 2.5 million miles of underground natural gas distribution lines.
What company is responsible for this new RNG engine?
The engine in question comes to us from Cummins Incorporated. The new X15N engine is half the weight of its predecessor and is the perfect example of Cummins’ strategy to reduce fleet emissions by using available cost-effective technology. The long-haul trucking industry is where we will find the X15N engine, as Cummins reports that 40,000 X15N engines have been deployed worldwide. Customers have reported 500 horsepower and up to 1,850 lb-ft of torque.
The engine aims to replace the large diesel engines currently being used in the long-haul sector. Some companies experimented with hydrogen for their large-scale needs, but RNG has proven to be a much more viable solution to the truckers’ needs. Shawn Hricko, Jamestown Engine Plant manager with Cummins, stated the following:
“We’ve tested it out at Loveland Pass [Colorado], which is about 12,000 feet of elevation, pulling heavy loads. This has been tried and true; the X15N performs like a 15-liter diesel. Some of these adjustments came in response to emissions regulations and standards in addition to customer-specific requirements.”
Does this mean a war between Cummins and Tesla is on the cards?
Tesla is facing a mountain of issues at the moment. Following his disastrous run as the head of DOGE, Elon Musk has now stated that he wishes to return to Tesla and give it all his attention. The attention that the electric motor has received in recent years has uplifted the alternative fuel sector, and now that Cummins has unleashed this new RNG engine, the writing might be on the wall for Tesla. To sweeten the deal, Cummins states on its website that it offers a 2-year/250,000 miles warranty with complete engine coverage available up to 5 years/500,000 miles, which is good value that is hard to contend with.
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