MINING ENGINES
Cummins recently rolled out an updated PrevenTech platform, an integrated engine reliability and performance solution for miners
Waiting for a revolution
Hybridisation has become the talk of the town in the mining engine sector, according to Dan Gleeson
The delay in the onset of electrification and a move away from conventional diesel-powered earthmoving equipment has been widely acknowledged in the last few years, with IM having read through enough mining company sustainability and annual reports referencing a lack of commercial options for them to turn to as part of their decarbonisation drives. While disappointing for many tech companies that have already ploughed billions of dollars into ICE-alternatives, this reduced pace of action will inevitably mean the industry’ s ultimate zero emission goals are reached later than hoped.
During this time, more than a few options have come into the propulsion mix to help mining companies reduce their conventional diesel fuel burn, with hybrid, diesel-electric and biofuels the most obvious examples.
All of these offer an interim step for miners to take on their way to‘ net zero’, without some of the perceived risk of trialling new technology.
Cummins recently released the results of a controlled simulation study comparing its QSK78 and QSK95 engines in 320 ton and 400 ton trucks across eight mine haul routes with multiple variables factored into testing. The QSK95 showed not only a productivity increase of 11-24 % ton / hour, but also demonstrated improved engine life of 16-29 % – all without impacting production cost($/ ton).
Earlier in 2025, Cummins rolled out its updated PrevenTech ® platform, an integrated engine reliability and performance solution for miners. This technology combines realtime remote monitoring, advanced predictive
analytics and 24 / 7 Cummins expert support to ensure Cummins engines operate at peak performance and to prevent unplanned downtime, the company claims.
Cummins cites its advanced prognostics capabilities as key to differentiating PrevenTech from other fleet management tools, going beyond fault detection by leveraging proprietary Cummins datasets and predictive analytics alongside ranked notifications and dedicated support.
The company also made major moves on two technology pathways in 2025. In February, the company announced its acquisition of key assets from First Mode, a leader in retrofit hybrid solutions for mining applications. Attendees of The Electric Mine 2025 event in Santiago, Chile, saw firsthand the immediate impact of the acquisition on the mining industry as Cummins unveiled a prototype of the world’ s first hybrid electric retrofit system for mining haul trucks – developed by First Mode.
Then in June, Cummins announced the successful commissioning of advanced low carbon fuel test cells, marking a significant milestone in its joint project with Vale and Komatsu to develop an ethanol- / dieselpowered surface mining haul truck aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Announced in July 2024, the dual-fuel program aims to retrofit existing diesel engines in Komatsu haul trucks to operate on both ethanol and diesel, significantly enhancing sustainability. These modified 230-291 ton haul trucks – the first vehicles of
Putting trust in the ICE
Cummins is of the opinion that internal combustion engines will remain integral to mining equipment productivity and sustainability for the foreseeable future, and it has released several updates over the year to demonstrate its commitment to continued evolution of today’ s mining engine.
The Cummins QSK95, for instance, is the most powerful mining engine available today and a prime example of a contemporary engine using latest generation technology, the company says. Providing up to 4,400 hp( 3,281 kW) at 1,800 rpm, this engine is used to move hundreds of tonnes of materials in some of the most challenging environments.
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In June, Cummins announced the successful commissioning of advanced low carbon fuel test cells, marking a significant milestone in its joint project with Vale and Komatsu to develop an ethanol- / diesel-powered surface mining haul truck aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, it says
International Mining | OCTOBER 2025