Natural gas has been left out in the cold for decades as society sought other fuels, such as electric power and other approaches. However, Cummins Inc. has dared to buck this trend with the X15N™, the world’s first 15-liter natural gas engine aimed at the heavy-duty segment.
This diesel-like performing, environmentally friendly engine is a quantum leap in transport, targeting the environmental and operational needs of an industry that yearns for change.
From overlooked fuel to the forefront of heavy-duty innovation
Natural gas has always been seen as a backup to diesel in transportation, but the X15N engine by Cummins has revolutionized this. Created to handle CNG, RNG, and LNG, this engine supplies 400-500 horsepower and up to 1,850 lb.-ft. of torque. Like diesel in power, it offers up to 10% improvement in fuel economy over Cummins’ 12-litre natural gas engine.
However, what makes the X15N stand out even further is the company’s adherence to the U.S. EPA and CARB 2024 Low NOx standards. The engine is flexible for different applications by incorporating Cummins HELM™ platform technology without compromising the Operating Reliability. This is not an innovation to fulfill a regulation; it’s an innovation to provide a solution for fleets to decrease emissions while not compromising performance.
Large fleets such as Walmart and UPS have already used the engine for extensive trials under the most challenging circumstances, covering more than 1.5 million miles. These trials are performed in negative and high temperatures, and such conditions attest to the reliability and flexibility of the X15N. That is why it is perfect for progressive fleets that would like to reduce their ecological impact to a minimum.
Blurring the lines between diesel and natural gas performance
Historically, natural gas engines have had less power and range than diesel, but this is not the case with X15N. Based on Cummins’ HELM™ platform, the engine is designed to be similar in construction to other diesel engines, so operators can rely on familiar systems and maintenance. Besides, it is compatible with top-notch transmissions such as the Eaton Cummins Endurant HD-N that guarantees perfect shifts and the best performance out of the heaviest trucks of up to 110,000 pounds.
The engine’s possibilities do not end with the fuel consumption issue. It is adaptable to sophisticated powertrain systems, which can help to achieve additional emission cuts. For example, Cummins Clean Fuel Technologies offers fuel systems that add other general environmental advantages. Regardless of the transport distance being regional or cross country, the X15N allows fleets to enhance on-road performance and embrace sustainability.
The X15N is to become part of Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks, which ensures its importance for the transport industry. This engine has modularity capability in fuel storage and the back of the cab system, making it versatile for various uses.
Revolutionizing the path to zero emissions
While electric vehicles are in the limelight, Cummins demonstrates that natural gas can also be a key strategy to reach net-zero emissions. The X15N is compatible with renewable natural gas (RNG), a negative carbon intensity fuel from organic waste that cuts emissions by up to 300% over diesel.
ACT Expo saw Clean Energy, the largest provider of clean fuels, demonstrating this capacity with a demonstration truck to show how the engine could change freight transportation.
In addition to emission reductions, the X15N is a transitional technology for the future. Thus, by linking internal combustion engines with low-carbon fuels, Cummins responds to present-day problems and looks to the future to find zero-emission solutions.
The potential is well illustrated by the outcomes of the engine in such partnerships as Shell’s Starship 3.0 concept tractor. The applied innovation was proven during a test run when Starship 3.0 reached such a high freight ton efficiency, and it shows that sustainable solutions can be cost-effective and performative.
The X15N is not simply an engine. It is a declaration. It questions the conventional wisdom that natural gas is a ‘peak’ fuel and shows that it can create a cleaner, more effective energy system.
X15N is the new Cummins engine that changed our view on the potential of natural gas-powered vehicles and made the fuel one of the serious contenders for sustainable transportation. That’s why the X15N offers diesel-like performance, complies with emissions standards, and allows fleets to transition towards cleaner power sources without compromising productivity.
Innovating is a risky business, but by doing so, Cummins has shown that the path to zero emissions is not just paved with electric vehicles and batteries but is a path of exploration for all the options to create a cleaner world.