There seems to be an endless list of ways to improve fuel economy, reduce emissions and advance sustainability initiatives.
Engine makers like Cummins are working on what they call agnostic engine platforms designed for diesel, natural gas and hydrogen. Fuel sources such as compressed natural gas, renewable natural gas, methanol, ethanol, renewable diesel, hydrogen-based fuels and others also can help fleets meet their environmental goals.
[RELATED: Cummins says agnostic engines will increase sales opportunities, reduce maintenance complexity]
This new technology revolution also is requiring advancements from associated component manufacturers.
“As commercial vehicles manufacturers work on ways to comply with stricter emissions standards, especially those focusing on CO2 and NOx, suppliers need to develop products that are compatible with the new vehicles,” says Jacobs Vehicle Systems' Robb Janak, director new technology. “We wanted to make sure the engine brake in the alternative powered engines could provide the performance fleets have come to rely on.”
As fleets shift to these alternative fuel solutions, they will notice a decrease in the vehicle’s ability to slow down or maintain a proper speed on grades when using the engine brake. This is due to a reduction in the engine compression ratio associated with spark ignited fuels compared to compression ignited fuel (diesel). This places an additional burden on the foundation brakes, which can create drivability problems.
Jacobs says it is addressing this by developing a new advanced braking system called High Power Density (HPD).
