AccelerateZ - Transient response solutions for zero emissions ICE applications

Cummins is fitting hydrogen engines for off-highway vehicles with electric turbochargers to solve a lag problem that currently limits their usefulness. Hydrogen engines burn cleanly, but they struggle with *transient response*—the ability to accelerate quickly when a digger needs to lift a load or a tractor needs to pull up a hill. Without fast air delivery, the engine hesitates and can produce more nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are harmful pollutants. This project tackles that bottleneck by testing advanced boosting systems, including an electric turbo (E-Turbo) that spins up instantly using a motor rather than waiting for exhaust gas. If the air-handling fix works, hydrogen engines could match diesel’s responsiveness while emitting near-zero CO2 and lower NOx. That matters for construction, mining, and farming vehicles, which are hard to electrify with batteries because they need high power for long shifts in remote places. A viable hydrogen engine gives these industries a decarbonisation route without redesigning entire fleets. The project does not invent new engine chemistry; it solves a practical engineering problem that currently blocks adoption. Success would mean a drop-in cleaner option for vehicles that keep building sites, quarries, and farms running.