Cummins acquires retrofit hybrid solutions supplier

Cummins Inc. announced it has acquired the assets of First Mode, a retrofit hybrid solutions provider. The acquisition includes First Mode’s hybrid mining and rail product lines and the full IP portfolio, which includes hydrogen and battery powertrain solutions. This technology is said to represent the first commercially available retrofit hybrid system for mining equipment.

As part of the agreement, Cummins also acquires First Mode’s commercial portfolio, manufacturing and testing capabilities and facilities, which includes a mine haul proving grounds in the United States. All operations, including engineering, commercial, deployment, operations and manufacturing staff in Australia, Chile and the U.S., will become part of the Cummins Power Systems industrial segment.

First Mode will continue to serve customers through the transition and will meet customers’ needs by shipping hybrid retrofit kits in Q1 2025. In a statement on its website, it said: “We have a robust customer pipeline that we will deliver to this year and then scale our commercial trials into fleet trials in 2026. The acquisition of First Mode by Cummins Inc. will bring even tighter collaboration with industry partners, removing any challenges to market entry and scale.”

In its announcement, Cummins said the acquisition reinforces its “commitment to providing innovative and effective decarbonization solutions and will allow the company to elevate our product portfolio while meeting the needs of our customers on their transition to a lower-carbon future.”

Jenny Bush, president of Power Systems at Cummins, went on to state: “This acquisition is an important step forward in our goal to lead our Power Systems customers through the energy transition. With First Mode’s hybrid retrofit technology, we are accelerating our ability to provide decarbonization solutions that meet miners’ need to drive down operating costs today.”

Cummins saidCummins said it is developing bridge technologies, through product hybridization and clean fuels such as ethanol and methanol, that will enable mining operations to maximize the life of existing fleets while reducing carbon emissions.

“Cummins’ dedication to partnering with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and miners ensures that these technologies are developed and tested in real-world environments,” Bush said. “With hybrid retrofit kits, modular component upgrades and scalable solutions, we are bringing miners the flexibility and confidence they need to decarbonize operations while adapting to evolving technologies and infrastructure.”