U.S. engine manufacturer Cummins has acquired First Mode, a Seattle-based company specializing in the electrification of mining and rail vehicles, marking a strategic move to expand its alternative drive solutions.
The acquisition, completed on February 11, includes First Mode’s hydrogen and battery drive technologies, along with its production and engineering teams in the U.S., Australia, and Chile.
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The deal follows Anglo American’s decision to divest from First Mode as part of a broader effort to “prioritise its capital.” Cummins will integrate First Mode into its Power Systems division, though the company will continue to serve its customers during the transition.
“This acquisition is an important step forward in our goal to lead our Power Systems customers through the energy transition,” said Jenny Bush, President of Power Systems at Cummins. “With First Mode’s hybrid retrofit technology, we are accelerating our ability to provide decarbonization solutions that meet miners’ need to drive down operating costs today.”
First Mode is known for its hybrid fuel cell and battery technology, designed as a retrofit system for mining vehicles. The company has been developing and testing these solutions at a mine transport test site in the U.S. Cummins, traditionally a diesel engine manufacturer, has been expanding its portfolio to include alternative propulsion systems under its Accelera brand, which was launched in 2023 to focus on electrification technologies.