First Mode is a
multinational decarbonization
Climate change mitigation (or decarbonisation) is action to limit the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that cause climate change. Climate change mitigation actions include conserving energy and replacing fossil fuels with clean energy sour ...
company that designs, manufactures, and distributes hybrid battery systems and hydrogen fuel cell technologies for heavy duty mining and rail vehicles, along with hydrogen refueling equipment. The company has operations in Australia, Europe, North America and South America.
It won
Fast Company
''Fast Company'' is an American business magazine published monthly in print and online, focusing on technology, business, and design. It releases six print issues annually.
History
''Fast Company'' was founded in November 1995 by Alan Webb ...
’s 2023 World Changing Ideas awards for the creation of the world's largest operating hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle.
History
First Mode was founded on March 14, 2018 in the
Seattle, Washington
Seattle ( ) is the List of municipalities in Washington, most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the List of Unit ...
area by 11 former members of asteroid mining company
Planetary Resources
Planetary Resources, Inc., formerly known as Arkyd Astronautics, was an American company that was formed on 1 January 2009,ARKYD Astronautics Founded http://www.planetaryresources.com/2009/01/draft-arkyd-astronautics-founded/ and reorganized an ...
.
First Mode partnered with mining corporation
Anglo American plc
Anglo American plc is a British Multinational corporation, multinational mining company with headquarters in London, England. It is the world's largest producer of platinum, with around 40% of world output, as well as being a major producer of ...
in 2019, signing a three-year agreement to develop a diesel alternative for the company's fleet of mining haul trucks.
On May 6, 2022, First Mode and Anglo American debuted the world's first and largest hydrogen-powered mine haul truck at the Mogalakwena platinum mine in South Africa with a converted
Komatsu 930E Haulpak truck. It successfully completed operational trials in May 2023.
In January 2023, First Mode and Anglo American announced the signing of a $200 million binding agreement to combine First Mode with the Anglo American nuGen team, thereby making Anglo American the majority shareholder. The two companies also signed a supply agreement for First Mode to provide Anglo American with several additional hybrid powerplant retrofit kits for mining haul trucks.
These are slated to be demonstrated on Komatsu 930E and 830E platforms in early 2024.
In December 2024, First Mode filed for
Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code ( Title 11 of the United States Code) permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Such reorganization, known as Chapter 11 bankruptcy, is available to every business, w ...
protection after being unable to find a buyer for its assets. The company plans to sell its assets and wind down operations through support from Angelo American.
In February 2025
Cummins
Cummins Inc. is an American multinational corporation, multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and distributes engines, electric vehicle components, and power generation products. Cummins also services engines and related equipmen ...
announced the acquiery of First Mode including its assets, the hybrid mining and rail product lines, the intellectual property and the operations in Australia, the United States and Chile which will operate under Cummins' Power Systems segment.
See also
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Carbon neutrality
Global net-zero emissions is reached when greenhouse gas emissions and removals due to human activities are in balance. It is often called simply net zero. ''Emissions'' can refer to all greenhouse gases or only carbon dioxide (). Reaching net ze ...
*
Climate change mitigation
Climate change mitigation (or decarbonisation) is action to limit the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that cause climate change. Climate change mitigation actions include energy conservation, conserving energy and Fossil fuel phase-out, repl ...
*
Greenhouse gas emissions
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activities intensify the greenhouse effect. This contributes to climate change. Carbon dioxide (), from burning fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum, oil, and natural gas, is the main cause of climate chan ...
*
Energy transition
An energy transition (or energy system transformation) is a major structural change to energy supply and consumption in an energy system. Currently, a transition to sustainable energy is underway to limit climate change. Most of the sustainab ...
*
Energy Efficiency Energy efficiency may refer to:
* Energy efficiency (physics), the ratio between the useful output and input of an energy conversion process
** Electrical efficiency, useful power output per electrical power consumed
** Mechanical efficiency, a rat ...
*
Carbon footprint
A carbon footprint (or greenhouse gas footprint) is a calculated value or index that makes it possible to compare the total amount of greenhouse gases that an activity, product, company or country Greenhouse gas emissions, adds to the atmospher ...
*
Low-carbon economy
A low-carbon economy (LCE) is an economy which absorbs as much greenhouse gas as it emits. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to human activity are the dominant cause of observed climate change since the mid-20th century. There are many proven ...
*
Sustainable Development Goals
The ''2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development'', adopted by all United Nations (UN) members in 2015, created 17 world Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The aim of these global goals is "peace and prosperity for people and the planet" – wh ...
References
{{reflist
External links
Official website
Multinational companies headquartered in the United Kingdom
Climate change mitigation
Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 2018
Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024