COLUMBUS, Ind. -- Cummins has received certification for its ISX15 engine from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), meeting both the EPA 2013 regulations and the new greenhouse gas and fuel-efficiency rules that will take effect in 2014. Cummins says its 2014 certification is the first engine certificate issued by the EPA.

The company says its ISX15 will deliver higher levels of fuel efficiency and reliability in 2013. Efficiency improvements to the base engine include optimized combustion and reduced parasitic load through high-efficiency water, fuel and lube-pump systems. Cummins says it will achieve up to 2 percent fuel economy improvement over today’s product.

The ISX15 for 2013 won't change much. It uses the same base engine with the XPI fuel system, VGT turbocharger, Cummins aftertreatment system with diesel particulate filter and selective catalytic reduction technology, along with fully integrated electronics.

“Cummins 2013 truck engines will deliver better fuel economy with no major hardware changes,” says Jeff Jones, Cummins vice president, sales and market communications.

“We are confident that we’ll receive certification for our other on-highway engines well before the end of the year,” he adds.

The entire Cummins lineup of 2013 on-highway engines for truck, bus, RV and specialty-vehicle markets will enter production on Jan. 2, 2013. All engines are expected to be certified a full year early to meet the 2014 greenhouse gas and fuel-efficiency rules.

The EPA 2013 regulations require the same near-zero emission levels of oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter as were required at the beginning of 2010. The new greenhouse gas and fuel-efficiency regulations will apply to all heavy-duty diesel and natural gas engines beginning in January 2014.

On-board diagnostics (OBD), which were introduced on the ISX15 in 2010, are also required across the full on-highway product line in 2013. OBD will provide enhanced service capability with standardized diagnostic trouble codes, service tool interface, in-cab warning lamp, and service information availability.