During a Leap Day Launch event Thursday, Cummins announced the next addition to its Cummins' X15 fuel agnostic platform will be a next generation diesel compliant with U.S. EPA and CARB 2027 regulations.
The new diesel offering will join the Cummins X15N natural gas engine in a lineup Cummins calls HELM (Higher Efficiency. Lower emissions. Multiple fuels) – a new and more marketable name for the B Series, X10 and X15 fuel agnostic engine platforms that ties these products to Cummins' march toward zero emissions.
“We have applied our decades of experience with the X15 to our next-generation product and believe these investments will serve our customers well into the future. The next generation X15 is the next evolution of technology, truly proving to the world that we never stop innovating,” says José Samperio, vice president, North America On-Highway at Cummins. “We are working hard to ensure the new product delivers our brand promise to customers for the important jobs they need to do every day.”
Maintaining the traditional reliability and lower operating costs that have met the needs of a diverse customer base since the inaugural X15 launch in 1998, the next generation, advanced diesel X15 will feature improved greenhouse gas and fuel efficiency benefits while retaining the same ratings of the current X15 (up to 605 horsepower and 2,050 ft.-lb. of torque) and optimizing powertrain integration with Eaton Cummins and Cummins-Meritor.
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“Today, we re-introduce our fuel agnostic engine platforms with a name that captures the innovation that powers us forward: the Cummins HELM platforms,” says Jane Beaman, vice president Global, On-Highway Business, Cummins. “With higher efficiency, lower emissions, and multiple fuels, the Cummins HELM platforms give our customers control of how they navigate their own journeys as part of the energy transition. They can choose the fuel types that work best for them, their businesses, and their goals,” she says.
Cummins says the next-generation engine is designed to have the capability to meet future emissions regulations beyond 2027 without the need for significant architecture changes. This investment will help the company maintain technology leadership for the next decade as it continues to fund future research and development in hydrogen and alternative fuel engines, battery electric and fuel cell powertrains, the company says.
“This new architecture expands on the legacy of the X15 engine. All teams involved recognize how important this product is and what it means for both Cummins and our customers’ future as the base architecture will carry us through the horizon of diesel technology and alternate fuels,” adds Jonathon White, vice president, Engine Business Engineering, Cummins.
From its inception, the next generation X15 was developed with Cummins’ fully integrated powertrain in mind. The X15 architecture utilizes a belt-driven, high output 48-volt alternator and aftertreatment heater solution, optimized for increasingly stringent emission standards, the company says.
Customers taking advantage of EX ratings (requires Eaton Cummins Endurant and GPS look-ahead data) with Cummins Meritor axles, brakes and drivelines will experience additional optimized fuel efficiency and drivability through features such as predictive gear shifting, on-ramp boost, and hill roll out.
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The Endurant HD and XD series are optimized for the next generation X15 powertrain to work seamlessly, Cummins says, improving efficiency and performance while maintaining drive comfort. All with a best-in-class transmission lube change intervals up to 750,000 miles as well as remote diagnostic capabilities.
The Cummins-Meritor 14X HE tandem drive axles are designed for maximum performance, durability and fuel economy. Cummins says they are equipped with a proprietary, advanced Meritor lube management system (MLMS) and feature super-fast ratio options, fuel-efficient bearings and high-efficiency spiral bevel gearing. Cummins-Meritor Permalube RPL drivelines are designed for reduced maintenance and have the ability to handle the high torque demands of today’s downsped engine platforms, the company adds.
