Cummins Inc., a global power leader, today announced the release of Future of Fleets, the company’s whitepaper aiming to spur collaboration and market growth for electrified powertrains in commercial vehicles.

The world’s power needs are changing. By the end of the 21st Century, we will not have the same reliance on fossil fuels. A growing number of fleets are looking to diversify how they power mobility and heavy industry. Battery electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming viable across a broad range of applications, and the potential to transform commercial fleets is clear. What’s less understood is how we can plot a course for adoption of these technologies, bringing them into greater use in the commercial automotive sector, while maintaining productivity and prosperity.

The following was authored by Tom Linebarger, Chairman and CEO of Cummins Inc. in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. January 20th is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and it’s a day that always has me reflecting on the state of social justice and fairness in the world. Those reflections are certainly not limited to this one day, however, and I find myself increasingly concerned about these issues, and thinking about ways I can impact and influence the conversation. 

Australian cotton is considered some of the best in the world for quality and yield. Under a joint venture agreement, CSD (Cotton Seed Distributors) and CSIRO have invested more than AU$70 million in cotton breeding and research since 2007 and by 2024 this investment will reach AU$140m in total. The key challenge now for CSD is providing varieties to meet the demands of the burgeoning cotton industry as new varieties can take up to 13 years to bring to market.

Tim and Marney O’Brien own and manage 40,500 hectares (100,000 acres) of irrigated and dryland farm property in the Pilliga and Cryon regions of north-west New South Wales, Australia. In just over 12 months, the O’Briens installed nine Cummins power units as they upgraded and developed the irrigation process for 4,050 hectares (10,000 acres) of their land for cotton farming. In addition, they have approval to develop a further 1,012 hectares (2,500 acres) for cotton.

When Canetec (Queensland, Australia) introduced its new Cummins QSL9 powered AX7500 cane harvester, it claimed it would set new standards for operating efficiency. Greensill Farming was Canetec’s first AX7500 customer and we visited them to find out exactly what they thought.

The company received a perfect score of 100% on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2020 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), designating the company a “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality.” Additionally, Cummins has been named to Forbes magazine’s Best Employers for Diversity list.  HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN

Much of the infrastructure required to practically use an electrified vehicle (EV) is already in place: roads, traffic lights, car parks and systems of vehicle registration are all agnostic as to how the vehicles they accommodate are powered. 

At present, EVs are often more expensive than their conventionally-powered equivalents. One reason for this is inherent material costs, with battery manufacture requiring large quantities of lithium. Yet, as processes are refined, efficiencies are found, and scale increases, the manufacturing costs of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are expected to reduce – and the reduction of this cost will be a major enabler for early commercial electric vehicles (EVs) adoption.

President Trump signed the agreement today, which had strong bipartisan support in both the U.S. House and Senate. The agreement cleared the Senate by an 89-10 vote last week, sending it to the president for his signature. Mexican legislators have approved a new agreement. Canada must still ratify the pact.