Cummins and Komatsu have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the event of hybrid powertrains for floor haulage heavy mining gear.
As a part of this collaboration, Komatsu has included Wabtec, its drive system provider, extending their involvement in offering superior, dependable powertrain options and optimisation for the following technology of hybrid mining gear.
Constructing on a robust legacy of diesel engine provide throughout all kinds of mining and building gear, Cummins and Komatsu will add hybrids to their product roadmaps of energy expertise options for progressive decarbonisation in massive mining haul truck functions.
This joint improvement effort will allow the acceleration of optimised hybrid options for mining. Retrofit hybrid options maintain the potential to assist mining prospects speed up their decarbonization journey as we speak whereas decreasing the price of operations of their put in fleet belongings. Hybrid options yield gasoline financial savings by capturing braking power whereas delivering productiveness enhancements via sooner cycle occasions.
“We’re thrilled to companion with Komatsu as soon as once more to convey the most recent developments to the mining sector,” says Gbile Adewunmi, Cummins vp – industrial markets, energy methods. “We’ve got a sturdy crew of Cummins and former First Mode consultants devoted to hybrid improvement and optimization, and now collaborating with Komatsu, we are able to convey miners the pliability and confidence they should decarbonize and enhance complete value of operations.”
Cummins’ acquisition of First Mode belongings in February 2025 brings vital capabilities and improvement tempo to the efforts, with pilot items deploying but this 12 months.
“This collaboration with Cummins is a vital step in advancing sensible decarbonization options,” says Dan Funcannon, senior vp, Komatsu Floor Haulage Enterprise Unit. “Collectively, we’re serving to bridge present operational wants with future low-carbon targets to help our prospects’ sustainability efforts.”
Like Cummins, Komatsu is dedicated to lowering environmental impression via its enterprise, concentrating on carbon neutrality from use of its merchandise and manufacturing of its gear by 2050. Hybrids present a significant first step in direction of this objective, whereas additionally meaningfully bettering complete value of possession via gasoline financial savings and productiveness advantages.
“Commercialising hybrid retrofit kits is a key first step,” says Molly Puga, First Mode basic supervisor. “With the tempo of improvement already below manner now accelerated by this collaborative partnership, we’re assured in delivering hybrid merchandise at scale nicely prematurely of 2030. The preliminary First Mode retrofit equipment pilot will go into the market within the coming months, the place we anticipate to see double-digit gasoline financial savings in mining operations.”
In 2024, Cummins and Komatsu teamed up with Vale on one other decarbonisation undertaking, partnering to develop twin gasoline haul vans, utilising a mixture of ethanol in diesel, to cut back CO2 emissions. Each tasks help Cummins’ Vacation spot Zero, the corporate’s dedication to sustainability and serving to its prospects navigate the power transition.
Picture: Komatsu
