Cummins hosted Secretary of Energy Steven Chu in Colombus, Ind., Monday as the Obama Administration announced nine project awards totaling more than $187 million to improve fuel efficiency for heavy-duty trucks and passenger vehicles.

As the company’s news release explains, Cummins will receive nearly $39 million to support systems level technology development, integration, and demonstration for highly efficient Class 8 trucks (SuperTruck). Another $15 million will support advanced technology powertrains for light-duty vehicles (ATP-LD).

Cummins will partner with Peterbilt Motors Company, a division of PACCAR, for its SuperTruck project. The Cummins project will develop and demonstrate a highly efficient and clean diesel engine, an advanced waste heat recovery system, an aerodynamic Peterbilt tractor and trailer combination, and a fuel cell auxiliary power unit to reduce engine idling.

“Cummins has long enjoyed a collaborative partnership with the DOE. These R&D programs have helped us develop the best products for our customers and the environment,” said Cummins President and Chief Operating Officer Tom Linebarger. “We appreciate the funding provided by the DOE for the Cummins SuperTruck and Light-Duty programs, which will create jobs, help address climate change and reduce oil consumption. This public-private partnership is a win for our economy, a win for the environment and a win for energy challenges. We are looking forward to working closely with Peterbilt on this important technology project.”

Emphasize that partnership angle. The Department of Energy notes that with a private cost share of 50 percent, the awards will support nearly $375 million in total research, development and demonstration projects nationally. Secretary Chu said:

Improving the efficiency of our vehicles is critical to reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil and addressing climate change. Today’s awards will help demonstrate the potential benefits for long-haul trucks and passenger vehicles and will play an important role in building a more sustainable transportation system for the country.

Other funding recipients announced Monday were Daimler Trucks North America, Navistar Inc., Chrysler Group, Delphi Automotive Systems, Ford Motor Company, General Motors. So you can see why it was big news at the Detroit Auto Show, too. See Detroit News, “US grants Detroit 3, suppliers millions for fuel savings, jobs”

More…

• TruckTrend Magazine, “Department of Energy Allocates $187 Million for Nine Vehicle Efficiency…”
• WISH TV video, “Video: Cummins gets $54M to develop fuel efficient vehicles“
• New York Times (blog), “Energy Department Awards $187 Million for Development of Efficient Cars and Trucks”

(Caption: From left: Sen. Evan Bayh, Cummins Chief Technical Officer John Wall, Secretary Chu, Rep. Baron Hill. Photo courtesy Cummins.)

From The Indianapolis Star, “House leaders, Bush work to get 12 votes“:

Joe Loughrey, vice chairman of Cummins Inc. and a National Association of Manufacturers board member, was among 14 executives who met with Bush on Thursday.

“We . . . had a very good discussion with him about the financial crisis and how the credit crunch is affecting our suppliers, employees and communities. We emphasized the need to act quickly and committed to urge our representatives to vote for this package, however imperfect, before we run out of time and the average citizen is hurt,” Loughrey said in a statement.

From the Courier-Journal, “Area House members still wary of rescue bill”

WASHINGTON — Rep. Baron Hill said representatives of the National Association of Manufacturers dropped by his office yesterday, trying to persuade him to change his vote on the financial rescue plan.

But when the House takes up the bill today, the Southern Indiana Democrat said he is likely to be where he was when the House rejected it Monday — against it.

“I want to keep an open mind to it,” Hill said yesterday. But “I don’t like what I’m looking at.”