Cummins and Komatsu have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the event of hybrid powertrains for floor haulage heavy mining tools.
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 era of hybrid mining tools.
Constructing on a robust legacy of diesel engine provide throughout all kinds of mining and building tools, 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 prospects speed up their decarbonization journey at this time whereas decreasing the price of operations of their put in fleet property. Hybrid options yield gas financial savings by capturing braking vitality whereas delivering productiveness enhancements by way of sooner cycle instances.
“We’re thrilled to accomplice with Komatsu as soon as once more to carry the newest developments to the mining sector,” says Gbile Adewunmi, Cummins vp – industrial markets, energy methods. “We’ve a strong crew of Cummins and former First Mode specialists devoted to hybrid growth and optimization, and now collaborating with Komatsu, we will carry miners the flexibleness and confidence they should decarbonize and enhance complete value of operations.”
Cummins’ acquisition of First Mode property in February 2025 brings crucial 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 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 by way of its enterprise, concentrating on carbon neutrality from use of its merchandise and manufacturing of its tools by 2050. Hybrids present a significant first step in the direction of this purpose, whereas additionally meaningfully bettering complete value of possession by way of gas 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 beneath manner now accelerated by this collaborative partnership, we’re assured in delivering hybrid merchandise at scale effectively upfront of 2030. The preliminary First Mode retrofit equipment pilot will go into the market within the coming months, the place we count on to see double-digit gas financial savings in mining operations.”
In 2024, Cummins and Komatsu teamed up with Vale on one other decarbonisation undertaking, partnering to develop twin gas haul vans, utilising a mixture of ethanol in diesel, to scale back CO2 emissions. Each tasks help Cummins’ Vacation spot Zero, the corporate’s dedication to sustainability and serving to its prospects navigate the vitality transition.
Picture: Komatsu
