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 subsequent era of hybrid mining gear.
Constructing on a robust legacy of diesel engine provide throughout all kinds of mining and development gear, Cummins and Komatsu will add hybrids to their product roadmaps of energy know-how options for progressive decarbonisation in massive mining haul truck functions.
This joint growth effort will allow the acceleration of optimised hybrid options for mining. Retrofit hybrid options maintain the potential to assist mining clients speed up their decarbonization journey right now 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 by sooner cycle occasions.
“We’re thrilled to companion with Komatsu as soon as once more to deliver the most recent developments to the mining sector,” says Gbile Adewunmi, Cummins vice chairman – industrial markets, energy methods. “Now we have a strong workforce of Cummins and former First Mode consultants devoted to hybrid growth and optimization, and now collaborating with Komatsu, we are able to deliver miners the flexibleness and confidence they should decarbonize and enhance complete price of operations.”
Cummins’ acquisition of First Mode belongings in February 2025 brings vital capabilities and growth tempo to the efforts, with pilot models deploying but this yr.
“This collaboration with Cummins is a vital step in advancing sensible decarbonization options,” says Dan Funcannon, senior vice chairman, Komatsu Floor Haulage Enterprise Unit. “Collectively, we’re serving to bridge present operational wants with future low-carbon objectives to help our clients’ sustainability efforts.”
Like Cummins, Komatsu is dedicated to lowering environmental affect by 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 the direction of this purpose, whereas additionally meaningfully bettering complete price of possession by 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 growth already underneath approach now accelerated by this collaborative partnership, we’re assured in delivering hybrid merchandise at scale nicely upfront of 2030. The preliminary First Mode retrofit package pilot will go into the market within the coming months, the place we count on to see double-digit gasoline financial savings in mining operations.”
In 2024, Cummins and Komatsu teamed up with Vale on one other decarbonisation venture, partnering to develop twin gasoline haul vehicles, utilising a mixture of ethanol in diesel, to cut back CO2 emissions. Each initiatives help Cummins’ Vacation spot Zero, the corporate’s dedication to sustainability and serving to its clients navigate the power transition.
Picture: Komatsu
