Cummins will unveil the PowerDrive, a plug-in hybrid electric powertrain solution spanning light, medium and heavy-duty applications, at the 2018 IAA Commercial Vehicle Show. This further expands Cummins’ portfolio of low emissions and fuel-efficient power solutions that includes clean diesel, near-zero natural gas, and fully electric.
This unique hybrid system will display at the Cummins booth in an electric hybrid utility truck, a Kenworth T370. The PowerDrive replaces the conventional transmission and switches in real time between two hybrid and two pure electric modes, optimizing the powertrain for the best fuel economics in any driving situation. The vehicle is also configured with exportable grid quality electric power to recharge vehicles and a recovery crane operating on either electric or engine power take-off.
The Cummins PowerDrive system has travelled more than six million miles in a fleet setting in the U.S. and China, and work is underway to introduce it to the European market in the near future. Its flexible architecture means the PowerDrive system can be combined with various sizes of diesel or natural gas engines and battery pack outputs.
“The Cummins PowerDrive is intelligent, versatile and compact, providing our on-highway customers the flexibility needed to meet the demands of their diverse jobs and markets,” said Julie Furber, Cummins executive director of Electrified Power. “Cummins is ready to offer the new PowerDrive suite through our OEM partners. We look forward to discussing how the PowerDrive’s compact packaging envelope and weight saving benefits will enable OEMs to produce PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles) vehicles for diverse needs without compromising performance or range.”
