If you could burn it, it could run

The idea of alternative fuels might seem new, but history tells a different story. What seems like a modern invention has actually been around for over a century.

In this episode, Kim sits down with Lori, a historian and archivist, to uncover the history of alternative fuels. They explore how early engines could run on just about anything, why diesel technology changed the game, and what bulletproof coffee and early engines had in common.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How early engines ran on everything from kerosene to vegetable oil and crude oil
• Why diesel engines changed how we think about fuel efficiency
• The unexpected ways Cummins has been innovating for over a century and what’s next for alternative fuel

Additional Resources

• Alternative Fuels 101
• Clean Energy: Exploring Benefits, Sources, and Fuels
• What is the energy transition?
• cummins.com/podcast

Dive into the conversation:

(00:00) Introductions

(01:05) How Lori’s passion for history led her to archives

(02:53) Alternative fuels: A history of innovation, not a new concept

(05:26) Early engines ran on anything, even butter

(06:34) The evolution of diesel and Rudolf Diesel’s mysterious story

(09:19) A rock star’s tour bus fueled by recycled cooking oil

(10:32) Bringing the past into the future