July 10, 2019 Vol. 16 No. 14

Cummins is expanding its ability to provide the transportation market with motive power in a variety of non-diesel applications. Having already developed a plug-in electric truck and purchased a battery-maker, among others, it’s now joined the hydrogen fuel-cell fray. The Indiana company has just entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all the outstanding shares of Canadian fuel-cell systems provider Hydrogenics Corporation. That amounts to about 80% of the company, the rest already owned by The Hydrogen Company, a subsidiary of L’Air Liquide SA. The latter will maintain its holding.

Subject to Canadian regulatory approval, the deal is expected to close in the third quarter of this year.

Based in Mississauga, Ont., Hydrogenics is a 24-year-old developer and manufacturer of hydrogen fuel-cell modules and hydrogen generation equipment. Its technology is leading to zero-emission mobility for cars and trucks, hydrogen buses in China, and hydrogen trains. The latter effort is already in action, its fuel cells powering a commuter train run by Alstom Transport in Germany. With 170 patents to its name, Hydrogenics says it has customers in more than 100 countries.

Its Power Systems division targets the growing demand for fuel cells used in stationary power and backup power, as well as mobile fleet applications. Systems are being deployed worldwide through OEM channels and have operated reliably for thousands of hours, says Hydrogenics.

Given that Cummins is a major player in the stationary engine market, by diesel means, the Hydrogenics purchase makes even more sense.

IN OCTOBER 2018, CUMMINS joined the Hydrogen Council, a global coalition exploring and promoting hydrogen as a clean energy source to help meet the world’s climate challenges. With other industry partners the company specifically aims to research how hydrogen fuel cells can power commercial vehicles, recognizing that this technology is likely to play a role in the portfolio of power options Cummins will provide to its customers in the future.

“We are excited that Cummins has reached an agreement with Hydrogenics to welcome the employees and innovations of one of the world’s leading fuel cell and hydrogen generation equipment providers to our company,” said Tom Linebarger, chairman and CEO, Cummins Inc. “We look forward to partnering closely with Hydrogenics’ team in the coming weeks as we work toward closing the transaction. Upon closing, we will share more details about the acquisition and our strategy to offer a broad portfolio of power solutions to meet our customers’ needs.”

“It takes vision and an innovative spirit to take on next-generation technologies and provide the environment for them to grow,” said Daryl Wilson, Hydrogenics president and CEO.

“Over the past 24 years, the Hydrogenics team has worked to refine and improve transformative technology solutions in hydrogen. Today, our years of work are recognized as two very major high-quality industrial leaders have taken the baton to continue our legacy in bringing clean energy solutions to the world. It is a great honor to be associated with such distinguished companies as Cummins and Air Liquide,” said Wilson.

A video on Hydrogenics fuel-cell technology can be seen here.

VOLVO PREDICTS HUMAN BEHAVIOR. Well, not quite yet, but Volvo Trucks North America is collaborating with automated vehicle software provider Perceptive Automata and customer Dependable Highway Express (DHE) on an innovative project designed to strengthen safety capabilities for the trucking industry through automation. This project leverages ‘human intuition artificial intelligence’ that reads the intention and awareness of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists, to enhance the situational awareness of truck drivers.

Volvo says it recognized the critical need for improved safety for all road users,