Cummins Inc. unveiled the
PowerDrive, an advanced suite of plug-in hybrid electric powertrain solutions
spanning light, medium and heavy-duty applications, at the 2018 IAA Commercial
Vehicle Show. This further expands Cummins’ broad portfolio of low emissions
and fuel-efficient power solutions that includes clean diesel, near-zero
natural gas, and fully electric to help each customer’s distinct needs.
This unique hybrid system was
centre stage at the Cummins booth in an electric hybrid utility truck, a
Kenworth T370. As the most versatile hybrid system on the market today, the
Cummins PowerDrive offers both parallel and series capabilities. 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 United States 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 flexible hybrid
architecture seamlessly shifts between pure electric for environmentally
sensitive areas with a 50-mile (80 km) range and hybrid for jobs requiring more
than 300 miles (480 km). It operates as a hybrid in either series or parallel
configuration modes. Series is better suited to low road speeds such as urban
driving (stop/start conditions), while parallel is ideal for higher road speeds
on the highway. In a series hybrid, the electric motor is the only means of
providing power to the wheels. The motor receives electric power from either
the battery pack or from the engine-generator. In a parallel hybrid, the engine
and electric motor combine to provide the power that drives the wheels. The
third mode of electric plus comes online when higher energy is required when
the system senses gradient climbing or acceleration for overtaking.
The future of transportation demands low
emissions without comprising fuel economy or drivability, and the PowerDrive is
designed to meet these needs. A US Class 6 truck powered by the PowerDrive with
a 50-mile (80 km) electric range, realises reduced emissions by up to 80
percent compared to conventional vehicles. Similarly, fuel costs are reduced by
between 40 to 80 percent depending on the drive cycle.
The Cummins PowerDrive 6000 is paired with a
Cummins B6.7 in the Kenworth T370, a US Class 6 truck. The vehicle’s gross
weight is 33,000 lbs (15 mt gvw). The service vehicle was commissioned by
Cummins to support EV and PHEV vehicle field tests and pilot routes. It
showcases three vehicle charging stations (1: 100 kW fast charge and 2: 6.6 kW
standard chargers) with direct charging cables from the truck to the PHEV or EV
vehicle requiring charging.
Source: Cummins