Cummins wins funding from the UK Government for Project Unity

On Nov. 1, Cummins launched Project Unity, a collaborative effort with Holtex and the University of Manchester to develop an advanced digital tool aimed at improving the design and durability of components used in hydrogen-fuelled powertrains.

Project Unity employs machine learning-driven digital tools to accelerate speed to market by predicting long-term failure modes in critical powertrain components. By reducing the need for physical testing, this approach enhances speed to market while also improving reliability and development efficiency. The project focuses on collecting real-world data on components such as turbomachine turbines, compressors, and bearings used in hydrogen-powered systems, enabling advanced simulations for robust, data-informed design improvements.

Cummins will lead Project Unity from its Huddersfield, UK facility. The £2.4M in total grant funding from the UK Government will be leveraged by Cummins and its partners to deliver the project. The award is provided through the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK(APC)’s Collaborative Research and Development funding round, APC25 and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, a part of UK Research & Innovation. Project Unity is one of the eight projects sharing £29.6 million of UK Government grant. APC collaborates with the UK government, the automotive industry and academia to accelerate the industrialization of technologies, supporting the transition to green transport. With its deep sector expertise in net-zero technologies, APC’s role in building and advising project consortia helps projects start more quickly and deliver increased value. Innovate UK is the UK’s national innovation agency. It drives productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas, including those from the UK’s world class research base.

“Building on previous successful APC projects, Cummins is excited to announce APC 25 Project Unity,” said Laith Al-Kazaz, Director of Advanced Engineering at Cummins. “This project will support Cummins Destination Zero strategy by enabling the accelerated product development of reliable lower carbon emission powertrains.   We have a proven track record with our UK-based partners and look forward to advancing our capabilities in these novel technologies.”

Typically, OEMs ensure component reliability through extensive physical testing. However, Project Unity introduces a mixed-fidelity machine learning approach to predict key failure modes, including hydrogen effects, water droplet erosion, and structural integrity. The tool will be applied to fuel cell (FC) e-turbo and Hydrogen-ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) turbocharger components, supported by advanced simulations to accelerate the design process.