Upon release of the first-ever greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fuel-efficiency standards for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, Cummins Inc. affirmed its support for the regulation and announced plans to certify its engines early to meet these standards.

Cummins has worked proactively on the regulation with a wide range of stakeholders over the past several years and is already developing the clean and efficient technology that will be needed to comply, the company reported.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) proposed this regulation in October 2010 after President Barack Obama directed the agencies to coordinate efforts and propose a single national GHG reduction and fuel-efficiency program.

The agencies led an open process, and Cummins collaborated with other engine and vehicle manufacturers, technology suppliers, fleets and environmental organizations to provide input. The result is a workable regulatory structure that accommodates the diverse needs of the commercial vehicle sector.

Cummins continues to develop technologies that meet stringent criteria emissions (such as those for oxides of nitrogen, or NOx) as well as improve the efficiency of its engines. Last year, the company was awarded nearly $54 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to support systems-level technology development, integration and demonstration for highly efficient advanced-technology powertrains.

By burning less fuel in the engine, carbon dioxide (CO2), which is the main GHG controlled under this regulation, is simultaneously reduced. The rule finalized today by the EPA and U.S. DOT establishes equivalent CO2 and fuel- efficiency standards for engines in 2014 and 2017.

Cummins' lineup of North American on-highway engines, from the ISB6.7 to the ISX15, will be certified to meet new onboard diagnostic (OBD) requirements on Jan. 1, 2013. To provide a single product launch and multiyear stability for customers, these products will also comply with the GHG and fuel-efficiency regulations.

Today's on-highway diesel engines in the U.S. emit 99 percent less Particulate Matter (PM) and NOx than they did 30 years ago. The company's use of Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology to meet the EPA's stringent 2010 emissions standards is a building block for the new GHG and fuel-efficiency standards. SCR not only reduces NOx to near- zero levels, but it also enables reduced fuel consumption. As a result, the Cummins 2010 heavy-duty and mid-range engines deliver up to 6 percent improved fuel efficiency compared with the previous models.