Kenworth to Start Production of T680s, T880s With X15N in Q3
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Kenworth plans to begin production of its Class 8 T680 tractor and T880 vocational truck with Cummins’ X15N natural gas engine in the third quarter of 2024, it said May 15.
The 15-liter engine can use compressed natural gas (CNG), renewable natural gas (RNG) or liquefied natural gas, producing between 400-500 hp with up to 1,850 pound-feet of torque. It is compatible with Eaton Cummins Endurant and Allison transmissions and offers a 10% improvement in fuel economy over the equivalent 12-liter engine, according to Cummins.
“We’re thrilled to soon begin production of Kenworth trucks with the Cummins X15N natural gas engine,” said Kevin Haygood, Kenworth assistant general manager for sales and marketing. “This new engine offering will be a great alternative solution for Kenworth customers seeking to reduce emissions in applications that require the power and performance they’re accustomed to with diesel engines.” Kenworth is a unit of Paccar Inc.
Customers can choose a Cummins Clean Fuel Technologies or Hexagon Agility CNG/RNG fuel system as factory options, while additional non-factory fuel systems are also available, Kenworth said.
Kenworth shook up the industry with the T600, the first aero truck, and has been leading the way ever since with the T660 and now the T680, Kenworth’s most aerodynamic truck ever. See the future of aero at the ACT Expo in Las Vegas.#Kenworth #T680 #T600 #ACTexpo #SuperTruck2 pic.twitter.com/T7cbKSVB1I — Kenworth Truck Co. (@KenworthTruckCo) May 15, 2024
In February, Kenworth delivered a pre-production T680 day cab equipped with the X15N engine to UPS, the first truck with the engine to be delivered. It is set to run on CNG. UPS ranks No. 1 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers in North America.
The X15N is the first of a series of new X15 engines to be released as part of what Cummins calls its High Efficiency, Lower emissions, Multiple fuels or HELM platform.
Limited production of the X15N began in March and full production is scheduled to begin in July. Cummins is also planning hydrogen and updated diesel variants of the X15 engine. The original X15 engine was launched in 1998.
A Kenworth spokesman could not provide specifics on when during Q3 production of X15N-equipped trucks would begin or status on orders.
Kenworth sister company Peterbilt will offer the X15N on its 579 semi, 567 vocational and 520 refuse models. The company also expects to start production of the trucks in the third quarter.
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