C ummins goes for gas
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• Cummins has introduced an L10 engine fuelled by natural gas for the US bus market.
The L10-240G exploits the latest lean-burn technology, unlike Cummins industrial units used in oilfields which also run on natural gas. Lean-burn combustion enables ratings of 179kW (240hp) at 2,100rpm with 1,017Nm (750 lbft) of torque at 1,100rpm, combined with economy, says Cummins. The engine will make its UK debut at the Waste Management Show in June, and Cummins believes it will find CV applications in Europe as well as bus use.
Lean-burn will also help the engine to meet the tough bus emission levels for NOx and particulates.
The engine was developed by Cummins with backing from the Gas Research Institute and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. So far 200 units are in service in American and Canadian cities with 300 more on order.
This engine reflects Cummins commitment to natural gas as its first choice of alternative fuel. The company looked at methanol but decided to pursue natural gas because the aldehyde emissions from methanol burning engines may well make them difficult to certify in California from 1996. California's regulation is expected to become the model for other areas.
Cummins lean-burn uses an air/fuel ratio of around 25:1, compared with the "chemically correct" 17:1, says Roberto Cordaro, Cummins vice-president of worldwide marketing.