The company also announced advanced features of the engine, including a capability to operate on a wide range of natural gas compositions. Cummins Westport said the capability is significant because natural gas, which is not a refined fuel, contains concentrations of hydrocarbons that can vary by region and sometimes even in the same region on a seasonal basis.
The C8.3G Plus is equipped with new electronics and sensors that accommodate for and adjust instantly to variations in fuel composition. This can prevent engine damage or loss of performance that might otherwise result.
The C8.3G Plus, with up to 280 horsepower, is intended mainly for buses and urban work trucks like refuse haulers and pickup and delivery trucks. This engine replaces the original C8.3G, which has been manufactured by Cummins since 1996. Production of the C8.3G Plus began in June and orders for more than 300 engines have already been announced for buses to serve major transit fleets in Boston, Washington, DC and Phoenix.
