Jennifer Rumsey doesn’t want perfect to be the enemy of good.
The chairwoman and CEO of Cummins predicted many power solutions and alternative fuel sources will be in the mix for a long time in transportation’s sustainability journey.
Delivering the opening keynote at ACT Expo 2025 in Anaheim, Calif., Rumsey cited advanced diesel, biodiesel, natural gas and hydrogen engines, as well as battery electric fuel cell and hybrid solutions, because “no single solution will meet our broader goals.”
She said in this time of uncertainty three things will help move the industry forward.
The right regulations, considering a fuel or technology’s lifecycle emissions, and finding the best solution for business and application needs are essential for success.
She urged industry members to work together. “We need to be agile and advocate for what’s necessary so we can invest in advancing a range of solutions that will power a more efficient and sustainable future,” she said.
Billions of dollars spent on innovation
The Cummins boss noted there’s uncertainty about the role regulations, incentives and trade policies will play for the industry’s future. Companies are continuing to invest billions of dollars to innovate and develop cleaner, advanced and efficient technologies.
“Do we slow down investments in new technologies and product improvements, or do we continue to innovate, invest and ensure businesses have more efficient and better performing products, keeping the end game in mind? And if we do how do we do this in a way that works for all of our businesses and our customers?” she asked the packed mainstage area.
Rumsey noted that over the past 25 years nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions from diesel products have been slashed 98% in the U.S. and 90% globally. This has been done without compromising power or performance. It takes 60 Class 8 semis to emit what a single truck emitted in 1988.
Challenging but achievable goals
Highlighting the industry’s resilience, she said it has faced and survived significant challenges including recessions, the Covid pandemic and unprecedented supply chain disruptions.
Expanding on her essentials for success, Rumsey said clear, challenging but achievable goals need to be set that drive innovation and allow the best technologies to compete. “We need certainty and time to meet them,” she added.
She said that regulations that force the adoption of certain technologies may exclude some of the best solutions, and they may also overlook meaningful improvements in today’s technologies.
The Cummins CEO said that we shouldn’t just think about tailpipe emissions. We need to consider the complete life cycle, including fuel production, transportation and distribution. Doing so accounts for all the greenhouse gas emissions and makes sense.
Incremental improvements to diesel
When fleets save money from improved fuel economy, it is the biggest greenhouse gas emission savings opportunity in the near term. She foresees the industry continuing to operate internal combustion engines for many years.
Rumsey said that it’s important to continue to make tangible and incremental improvements to diesel, while also advancing low carbon alternate fuels to give customers choice as infrastructure builds out.
She also gave a shoutout to hybrid technology, saying it is an important alternative, offering a balanced and pragmatic solution for trucking. Hybrids address the challenges of range and improves fuel efficiency and emissions, while bridging the gap between traditional combustion engines and full electrification. Rumsey said that they can help drive scale and reduce costs for batteries.
