Cummins Inc. Corporate Office Building in downtown Columbus is shown in this file photo from April. Republic file photo
Cummins Inc. has reached an agreement with Japanese automaker Isuzu Motors Ltd. to create a prototype medium-duty, battery electric truck that is expected to be piloted in “prominent” fleets in North America later this year.
The Columbus-based company said Thursday that the truck is the first zero-emissions product created through the Isuzu Cummins Powertrain Partnership formed in May 2019.
Under the agreement, Cummins will integrate the Cummins PowerDrive6000 into Isuzu’s F-Series truck and anticipate piloting the vehicle at some point this year, the two companies said in a statement. Following a successful demonstration and pilot phase, Isuzu will explore opportunities to commercialize medium-duty, battery-electric trucks with Cummins-powered systems across North America.
“We are excited to be working with Isuzu to accelerate decarbonization within the partnership,” said Amy Davis, vice president and president of new power at Cummins. “It’s through our joint commitment in innovation that we provide our customers with safe, reliable zero-emissions solutions.”
Koichi Seto, director of the board and senior executive officer at Isuzu, said in a statement that the agreement with Cummins is a “significant” part of the path to carbon neutrality for the company.
“As part of the path to carbon neutrality, it is significant for us to start this joint (battery-electric vehicle) prototype project in North America,” Seto said in the statement. “Through our partnership, we commit to continuing to explore further opportunities in the next generation power source, including electric powertrain technologies in addition to the existing powertrain collaboration.”
