Cummins has signed a memorandum of understanding with Komatsu Co., Ltd., a global supplier of mining and construction machinery, to jointly develop a hybrid power system for heavy mining equipment used in open-pit transportation.
According to the cooperation plan, Komatsu has invited its drive system supplier Wabtec to join. The three parties will work together to provide advanced and reliable powertrain solutions and optimizations for the new generation of hybrid mining equipment.
With its profound accumulation of diesel engine solutions in various mining and construction machinery equipment fields, Cummins and Komatsu have incorporated hybrid technology into their product roadmaps through this move, in order to gradually decarbonize the application of large-scale mining transport trucks.
This joint development will integrate the extensive and large-scale resources of Komatsu and Cummins, accelerating the launch of an optimized hybrid solution suitable for mining applications. The modified hybrid kit can help mining users immediately initiate the decarbonization process and simultaneously reduce the operating costs of the existing fleet: by saving fuel consumption through the recovery of braking energy and enhancing efficiency by shortening the operation cycle.
Gbile Adewunmi
It is a great pleasure to establish a new cooperation with Komatsu, bringing the latest technologies to the mining industry. The project team of Cummins, which consists of former experts in hybrid development and optimization of First Mode, will work together with Komatsu to offer more power options for the mining market, accelerating the decarbonization of the mining market and reducing total operating costs.
-- Vice President of Cummins Industrial Power Market
Gbile Adewunmi
In February this year, Cummins completed the acquisition of First Mode, providing key capabilities for the project and accelerating the development pace. The first batch of prototypes will be put into use within this year.
Dan Funcannon
The collaboration with Cummins is a significant milestone in advancing decarbonization solutions. Our partnership has built a technical bridge between the current operational needs of the mines and the future low-carbon goals, helping our customers achieve sustainable development.
-- Senior Vice President of the Komatsu Open-Air Transportation Division Dan Funcannon
Like Komatsu, Cummins is committed to reducing environmental impact through various means, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality in its product usage and production processes by 2050. Hybridization is the first step towards this goal, and it significantly reduces the total cost of ownership by improving fuel efficiency and enhancing productivity.
In 2024, Cummins, Komatsu and Vale also collaborated to develop transport trucks that could use a diesel-ethanol dual-fuel system, in an effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Cummins has been deeply involved in the Chinese mining market for many years. In both the traditional diesel engine business and the recent field of electrification solutions, it has been continuously increasing its investment. This cooperation will effectively leverage First Mode's industry experience to provide better solutions to help mining customers accelerate the decarbonization process, reduce operating costs, and improve operational efficiency.