Cummins gets second nod from EPA

COLUMBUS, Ind., (Aug 15, 2002) — Cummins has announced that it has received certification for its medium duty ISB engine from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The approval means that the ISB complies with the new emission standards for all medium and heavy duty engines that go into effect on October 1. The ISB is the second Cummins engine to receive certification by the EPA at the 2.5 gram NOx + NMHC standard. In April, Cummins’ heavy-duty ISX engine became the first engine certified for the EPA regulations.

The 5.9-litre ISB engine is used in trucks, buses, RV’s, fire trucks, step vans, and many other medium duty applications. Originally introduced in Europe over a year ago, the ISB had a exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) subsystem added. The company says in addition to the base engine experience in Europe, the new ISB will have more than one million field test miles by the time full production rolls around this October. Limited production of the 2.5 gram compliant ISB has already started.

Like virtually all the other engine OEs, Cummins admits the EPA engines will cost more, but asserts they will likely maintain current maintenance intervals and fuel economy. However, because more concrete evidence on those issues is still to a large extent unavailable, many truck fleets are questioning those claims, and are playing wait-and-see before jumping on the ’02 bandbagon.