Cummins Inc. on Tuesday, March 17, introduced its on-highway engine product line that will comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2010 emissions regulations. Included in the lineup is a new engine model – the Cummins ISX11.9.
As it announced in August 2008, Cummins has shifted gears and now will rely on selective catalytic reduction (SCR) on all its on-highway engines as an aftertreatment to neutralize NOx in the exhaust. Previously, Cummins had planned to use SCR only in its medium-duty product and intended to rely solely on enhanced exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) to deal with NOx in its heavy-duty product.
At the top of the lineup is the Cummins ISX15, which the engine maker says will offer improved performance and fuel economy – up to 5 percent better – than today’s ISX engine. Key features of the ISX15 include the Cummins XPI high-pressure common-rail fuel system, an enhanced cooled-EGR system, a single VGT Turbocharger and the Cummins Aftertreatment System that uses SCR and the diesel particulate filter introduced as part of the 2007 emissions change.
Cummins will maintain ISX15 ratings from 400 to 600 hp, with torque outputs from 1,450 to 2,050 lb-ft. The engine initially will be available in Volvo, Kenworth and Peterbilt products, as well as the Freightliner Cascadia, says Lori Thompson, executive director of the Cummins OEM business.
Without naming Navistar, Jim Kelly, president of the Cummins Engine Business, acknowledged that one truck maker has elected not to offer an engine option that relies on SCR. He suggested, however, that Cummins never gives up on convincing the customer that it has the best product and that the truck makes Thompson listed are only those for which commitments exist today. “We don’t do anything if people don’t sell our engines [in their trucks],” Kelly said.
The new ISX11.9 – which is aimed at vocational, day cab, regional and less-than-truckload linehaul applications, among others – shares numerous common components with the ISX15, including cooled EGR, VGT turbocharger, XPI fuel system, electronic controls and the aftertreatment system. The ISX11.9, which initially will be available only in Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks, will be offered with ratings from 310 to 425 hp and torque from 1,150 to 1,650 lb-ft.
One of the advantages of the 2010 lineup is improved fuel economy even when drivers aren’t as skilled or focused on driving for fuel efficiency, says Steve Charlton, vice president of heavy-duty engineering. “Our heavy-duty engines for 2010 have a large ‘sweet spot’ due to the low-temperature NOx conversion capability of the copper-zeolite catalyst, which means that these engines are extraordinarily driver-friendly.” So even an inexperienced driver should see improved fuel economy and better performance over the 2007-technology product, Charlton says.
In addition to the ISX15 and ISX11.9, Cummins announced its mid-range engine line for 2010, which is nearly identical to their 2007 counterparts aside from the addition of SCR. Those include the ISB6.7, ISC8.3 and ISL9 engines.
Diesel exhaust fluid
In a related announcement, Cummins Filtration said it would offer Fleetguard diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) at all Cummins distributor locations by Oct. 1 of this year. DEF – a solution based on urea – is necessary for operation of the SCR aftertreatment system.
As of Oct. 1, all 20 Cummins distributors at more than 187 locations throughout North America will offer DEF. The product also will be available through the Cummins Filtration network, which includes more than 20,000 locations with nearly 8,000 retailers in North America.
The Fleetguard DEF product will be available in several packaging options, including bulk, 330-gallon plastic totes, 275-gallon disposable totes and 55-gallon plastic drums. Smaller packaging sizes and dispensing equipment are expected to be available by mid-2009.
Corporate governance
Cummins also recently announced that it has received the highest possible rating for its corporate governance practices from GovernanceMetrics International. Cummins said it was one of just 43, or 1 percent of the companies rated, that received GMI’s highest rating of 10.0.
GMI rated companies based on six areas of analysis: board accountability, financial disclosure and internal controls; executive compensation; shareholder rights; ownership base; takeover provisions and corporate behavior; and responsibility. Companies are rated from 0 to 10.
“Cummins believes it has a responsibility to be open and transparent in all its actions,” said Marya Rose, vice president and general counsel for the Columbus, Ind.-based company. “We are extremely pleased to receive GMI’s highest rating, because it speaks to the effectiveness of our efforts in these important areas.”
GMI monitors and rates corporate governance for about 4,200 businesses worldwide. Companies are measured using objective data, starting with a review of public information about each business that includes regulatory filing, websites and news articles. GMI assigns both global and national ratings to companies, allowing each corporation to compare itself to both businesses around the world and at home.
The ISX11.9, which initially will be available only in Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks, will be offered with ratings from 310 to 425 hp and torque from 1,150 to 1,650 lb-ft.
