IAA Voices: Interview Cummins

Alison Trueblood is responsible for Cummins European truck and bus OEM customers, as well as leading key programs such as Euro VII and business development activities to grow Cummins’ business in Europe.

What does Cummins stand for and what should every IAA visitor know about the company?

At this year’s IAA Cummins will showcase its commitment to industry decarbonization – a strategy we are calling Destination Zero™. This is our global plan to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) and air quality impact of our products and operations, with the objective of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Helping our customers adopt cleaner technologies today, like near-zero natural gas and advanced diesel, while infrastructure is being put in place for zero-emissions technologies, will make an immediate, positive impact.

We know our goal is ambitious, but we are well-positioned to achieve it in a way that makes the transition to low and zero-emissions easy for our customers.

What is the company’s most important project for 2022/23?

We are committed to promoting environmental sustainability in a way that supports customer and industry needs. To do that we need a product plan with a broad range of low and zero-emissions technology options. Our key projects over the coming years will focus on what we term our ‘dual-path approach.’  We will reduce emissions today with advanced, engine-based technology and new fuel types, while simultaneously investing almost $1billion annually in new, zero-emissions products.

We know the route to decarbonization will not be a one-size fits all scenario – it will be different for different customer types – but our dual-path facilitates a variety of power options for whatever stage our customers are at in their decarbonization journey. We have always focused on helping our customers succeed, and we will continue to do that with innovative and dependable power that is good for their businesses and for the environment.

The newly designed IAA TRANSPORTATION is a platform and meeting place for transport and logistics companies from all over the world. What makes the trade fair so appealing to you?

IAA will be the first opportunity for us to meet with our European-based customers and industry peers on such a large scale since before the COVID-19 pandemic. We are really looking forward to meeting everyone face to face, exchanging ideas, sharing knowledge and being part of the excitement that surrounds a large tradeshow like IAA.

What can IAA visitors particularly look forward to at your stand?

We will bring our Destination Zero strategy to life with key technologies including advanced diesel for multiple upcoming emissions regulations, an industry-first new fuel agnostic engine range, hydrogen internal combustion engines and a range of battery electric products. In addition, we will unveil our fourth-generation hydrogen fuel cell which highlights the rapid evolution of our zero-emissions technologies for the transportation industry.

We have some exciting hydrogen-focused announcements planned before and during IAA, visitors can stay up to date at https://www.cummins.com/events/iaa or @CumminsEurope on Twitter / Cummins Europe on LinkedIn.

The coming years are all about transformation. Where will the transport and logistics industry be in 2030 - and what milestones do you want to have achieved by then?

The transport and logistics industry is at a pivotal point.  We are seeing a shifting energy mix and move towards decarbonization, with more low-and zero-emissions technology on the road than ever before. Our plan is to advance zero-emissions technology as well as promote the adoption of lower carbon fuels to reduce emissions now.

Significant infrastructure developments will be needed to support lower carbon operation, and this requires investment in green energy production. Over the next decades, we could see global growth in the provision of alternative fuels like renewable natural gas, hydrogen, and biodiesel. In addition, as technology and infrastructure develops battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell products will become viable for more use cases, especially for urban or lower-duty cycle applications.

As well as a changing power mix, we may see increased connectivity and software development, which will revolutionize condition monitoring and further optimize vehicle performance. Cummins is adopting game-changing prognostic algorithms that work to move customers away from reactive service models to predictive, planned maintenance. This allows us to detect potential issues early and take the necessary action, either through over-the-air updates or at the next scheduled maintenance. This will reduce unplanned downtime and increase vehicle availability and reliability.

The commercial transportation industry works to meet society’s needs, and those needs are continually demanding. Cummins is investing to ensure that whatever challenges our customers face, we will be there to support them in a way that strengthens their business while promoting industry decarbonization.

 

About Cummins

Cummins is a global power leader and designs, manufactures, distributes and services a broad portfolio of power solutions. The company’s products range from diesel, natural gas, electric and hybrid powertrains and powertrain-related components including filtration, aftertreatment, turbochargers, fuel systems, controls systems, air handling systems, automated transmissions, electric power generation systems, batteries, electrified power systems, hydrogen generation and fuel cell products.