Caterpillar with use a demonstration project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to build a hydrogen-hybrid power solution on its C13D engine platform.
The three-year project will begin in the first quarter of 2024 with the goal of developing a transient-capable system for off-highway applications. The project with demonstrate how state-of-the-art control systems and electric-hybrid components can help hydrogen-fueled engines meet or exceed the power density and transient performance of traditional diesel engines, according to the company.
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Caterpillar will serve as the prime contractor on the project, providing engine research and development as well as system integration. As the project progresses, other industry and academic collaborators will be brought into the program to provide additional specialist expertise. The initiative will be delivered at Caterpillar facilities in Chillicothe, Illinois, and San Antonio, Texas.
“Every off-highway application has its own unique duty cycles, lifecycle demands, and performance expectations, and this complexity is driving the development of a wide range of power solutions for the energy transition,” said Steve Ferguson, SVP of Caterpillar Industrial Power Systems, in a statement. “One size does not fit all, which is why we’ve engineered flexibility into the C13D engine to serve as our platform of the future.”
The inline, six-cylinder Cat C13D enables the use of renewable liquid fuels such as 100% HVO, B100 Distilled Biodiesel, and even up to B100 Standard Biodiesel by working with the local Cat dealer. In addition to using hydrogen, its core architecture is designed for the future development of spark-ignited natural-gas capabilities, according to the company.
Source: Caterpillar
