Cummins unveils fully electric semi-truck

The reveal, weeks ahead of a planned unveiling by electric automobile manufacturer Tesla, adds to Cummins’ portfolio of environmentally-friendly powertrains.    Engine manufacturer Cummins, Inc. unveiled a fully electric powertrain on Tuesday, just a few weeks ahead of a planned unveiling from electric automobile maker Tesla.
   The class 7 demonstration Urban Hauler Tractor features a 140 KWh battery pack – instead of a 12-liter engine – with a range of about 100 miles on a single charge for city driving that’s extendable to 300 miles with additional battery packs, the company said. The truck could potentially also be fitted for solar panels on the trailer roof, said Cummins.
   “As a global power leader for the commercial and industrial customers we serve, with an unmatched service and support network, we are better positioned than any other company to win in new and emerging technologies and in new markets,” said Rich Freeland, Cummins President and Chief Operating Officer. “We will leverage our deep industry and customer knowledge and our scale advantage to win. Over the past century, our ability to innovate and adapt has fueled our success and we are confident we are on the right path to do it again.”
   A leader in powertrains, Cummins said it wants to produce the cleanest engine possible, but noted that “diesel engines aren’t going away.” The company expects diesel to be a popular option with customers for years. In order to offer more options, Cummins also shared its latest near-zero natural gas engine technology, X12 and X15 diesel engines, and a “revolutionary” heavy-duty diesel engine in slated for use in 2022.
   “With these new innovations, Cummins will continue to provide connected customer support, including cloud-based solutions and big data analysis, in order to maximize up-time, safety and business optimization, increasing customers’ bottom line,” the company stated. 
   Tesla is planning to unveil its all-electric semi in September, according to a tweet by CEO Elon Musk in April. The company also has plans to test truck platooning as it rolls out autonomous truck prototypes.