Cummins natural gas engine for Freightliner Cascadia trucks

The Cummins X15N rated from 400 to 500 hp and 1,450 to 1,850 lb.-ft. of torque will be available in Freightliner Cascadia Class 8 trucks. (Photo: Cummins)

The Freightliner Trucks division of Daimler Truck North America is working with Cummins Inc. to offer its X15N natural gas engine in heavy-duty Freightliner Cascadia Class 8 models. Freightliner will offer the new spark-ignited engine in the Cascadia 126-in. BBC, in both sleeper and day cab configurations, with production targeted to begin in 2025.

“We have a number of customers that continue to run natural gas trucks today and our goal is to provide those customers with the products, like the X15N, they need to operate successfully for their business,” said Greg Treinen, vice president, On-Highway Market Development, Daimler Truck North America. “The new X15N natural gas engine option for our Freightliner Cascadias complements our portfolio of solutions that help our customers run their fleets efficiently and sustainably.”

Cummins describes the X15N as the first natural gas engine to be designed specifically for heavy-duty and on-highway truck applications. It is rated from 400 to 500 hp and 1,450 to 1,850 lb.-ft. of torque and comes equipped with a passive and maintenance-free three-way catalyst aftertreatment system from Cummins Emissions Solutions. The 1,850 lb.-ft. of peak torque output allows for optimum performance when paired with the Eaton Cummins Endurant HD N Transmission and the availability of optimized EX ratings.

The new natural gas engine achieves lower NOx levels than the 2024 EPA and CARB standards, Cummins said, and when operating on renewable natural gas (RNG or biomethane), it can significantly reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of heavy-duty trucks. This can extend from a 90% reduction to carbon neutral, or even carbon negative, depending on the bio-source and waste feedstock used to produce the fuel, the company noted.

The engine is an essential part of Cummins’ commitment to help customers reach net-zero GHG emissions, improve NOx and achieve their sustainability goals, said José Samperio, vice president and general manager, North America On-Highway, Cummins Inc. “The X15N, an industry first big bore natural gas powertrain with power and torque curves almost identical to diesel, will help long-haul fleets see improved economic and environmental performance,” he added.