First Mode

First Mode was a multinational industrial decarbonization company focused on reducing emissions from heavy-duty vehicles that are difficult to electrify through conventional battery systems. Its technology portfolio centered on hybrid battery powertrains, hydrogen fuel-cell systems, hydrogen-refueling equipment, and related integration services for mining and rail applications. The company was established on March 14, 2018, in the Seattle, Washington area by 11 former members of Planetary Resources, an asteroid-mining company. First Mode initially positioned itself as an engineering and technology-development business capable of converting large industrial vehicles to lower-carbon propulsion. Its most important commercial relationship became a partnership with Anglo American, the global mining group. In 2019, the companies entered a three-year agreement to develop a diesel alternative for Anglo American's mining haul-truck fleet. The partnership produced one of First Mode's most visible demonstrations. In 2022, First Mode and Anglo American presented a hydrogen-powered mine haul truck at Anglo American's Mogalakwena platinum mine in South Africa. The vehicle was based on a converted Komatsu 930E Haulpak, a very large class of truck normally powered by diesel. The project was described as the world's first and largest operating hydrogen fuel-cell-powered vehicle at the time. Operational trials were successfully completed in May 2023, providing a public demonstration of hydrogen propulsion in an extreme-duty mining environment. Anglo American deepened its relationship with First Mode in January 2023. The companies announced a binding agreement valued at $200 million to combine First Mode with Anglo American's nuGen team, making Anglo American the majority shareholder. The transaction was accompanied by a supply agreement under which First Mode was expected to provide additional hybrid powerplant retrofit kits for Anglo American mining trucks. Demonstrations were planned for Komatsu 930E and 830E platforms in early 2024. These arrangements connected First Mode's technology-development capabilities with a major mining customer's fleet-decarbonization program. First Mode's work covered more than mining haul trucks. Its stated activities included the design, manufacture, and distribution of hybrid battery systems and hydrogen fuel-cell technologies for heavy-duty mining and rail vehicles, as well as hydrogen-refueling equipment. The company operated across Australia, Europe, North America, and South America, reflecting the geographic concentration of major mining and industrial customers. The business later experienced financial difficulty. In December 2024, First Mode filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after it was unable to find a buyer for its assets. The restructuring plan involved selling assets and winding down operations with support from Anglo American. In 2025, Cummins announced the acquisition of First Mode's assets, including its hybrid mining and rail product lines, intellectual property, and operations in Australia, the United States, and Chile. These assets were to become part of Cummins' Power Systems segment. The purchase was announced as completed on February 11, 2025. As a result, First Mode is best treated as a defunct or absorbed standalone brand rather than an independent active company.

First Mode was founded on March 14, 2018, in the Seattle area by 11 former members of Planetary Resources. The founding team brought experience from an organization associated with advanced space and asteroid-mining technologies, but First Mode directed its engineering capabilities toward terrestrial heavy industry, particularly the challenge of lowering emissions from mining and rail vehicles. The company's business model focused on developing and integrating alternative power systems for vehicles whose size, duty cycles, and operating environments make conventional electrification difficult. Its portfolio included hybrid battery systems, hydrogen fuel-cell technologies, and hydrogen-refueling equipment. Mining became the central application area because haul trucks consume substantial quantities of diesel and operate under demanding loads, while rail vehicles presented a related opportunity for large-scale propulsion systems. In 2019, First Mode began a formal partnership with Anglo American. The three-year agreement called for the development of a diesel alternative for Anglo American's mining haul-truck fleet. The relationship gave First Mode access to an operating mining environment and a potential large-scale customer, while giving Anglo American a technology partner for its broader fleet-decarbonization efforts. A major milestone came in 2022, when First Mode and Anglo American unveiled a hydrogen-powered mine haul truck at the Mogalakwena platinum mine in South Africa. The vehicle was a converted Komatsu 930E Haulpak equipped with a hydrogen fuel-cell power system. It was presented as the world's first and largest operating hydrogen fuel-cell-powered vehicle, underscoring the ambition of applying hydrogen technology to one of the largest classes of industrial mobile equipment. The vehicle subsequently completed operational trials in May 2023. The relationship with Anglo American became more structurally significant in January 2023. The companies announced a binding agreement valued at $200 million to combine First Mode with Anglo American's nuGen team. The arrangement made Anglo American the majority shareholder. Alongside the combination, First Mode agreed to supply additional hybrid powerplant retrofit kits for Anglo American mining trucks. The planned demonstration platforms included Komatsu 930E and 830E trucks, with demonstrations anticipated in early 2024. During this period, First Mode operated internationally, with activities in Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. Its products and engineering programs addressed both mining and rail vehicles, and its geographic footprint corresponded to regions with significant mining and industrial transportation activity. The company later encountered financial and strategic difficulties. In December 2024, First Mode sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after it could not find a buyer for its assets. The stated plan was to sell the assets and wind down operations, with Anglo American providing support during the process. In 2025, Cummins announced that it would acquire First Mode's assets, including the hybrid mining and rail product lines, intellectual property, and operations in Australia, the United States, and Chile. The acquired activities were designated for Cummins' Power Systems segment, and completion of the purchase was announced on February 11, 2025. The transaction effectively ended First Mode's existence as an independent operating company while preserving selected technology and operations within Cummins.

• 2025

  Cummins acquisition completed

  [1]First Modeen.wikipedia.org

  Cummins completed its purchase of First Mode's selected assets, intellectual property, product lines, and operations.

• 2024

  Chapter 11 filing

  [1]First Modeen.wikipedia.org

  First Mode filed for bankruptcy protection and began planning an asset sale and wind-down.

• 2023

  Hydrogen truck completes operational trials

  [1]First Modeen.wikipedia.org

  The hydrogen-powered haul truck completed operational trials in May 2023.

• 2023

  Anglo American becomes majority shareholder

  [1]First Modeen.wikipedia.org

  A binding agreement combined First Mode with Anglo American's nuGen team and included a planned supply of additional hybrid retrofit kits.

• 2022

  Hydrogen mine haul truck unveiled

  [1]First Modeen.wikipedia.org

  A converted Komatsu 930E powered by First Mode's hydrogen fuel-cell system was introduced at Anglo American's Mogalakwena platinum mine.

• 2019

  Anglo American development agreement

  [1]First Modeen.wikipedia.org

  First Mode and Anglo American began a three-year program to develop a diesel alternative for mining haul trucks.

• 2018

  First Mode is founded

  [1]First Modeen.wikipedia.org

  First Mode was established in the Seattle, Washington area by 11 former Planetary Resources employees.

Heavy-duty vehicle decarbonization specialist serving mining and rail operators with hybrid-electric and hydrogen-based propulsion systems.

• Mining and rail propulsion

  Hybrid battery power systems

  First Mode developed hybrid powerplant systems intended to reduce diesel consumption and emissions in heavy-duty mining and rail vehicles. The systems were designed for retrofit and integration into existing vehicle platforms, including Komatsu mining trucks, rather than being limited to newly manufactured vehicles.

• Heavy-duty vehicle decarbonization · 2022

  Hydrogen fuel-cell power systems

  The company's hydrogen fuel-cell technology was demonstrated in a converted Komatsu 930E mine haul truck at Anglo American's Mogalakwena platinum mine. The project targeted large vehicles operating under continuous, high-load conditions where hydrogen could serve as an alternative to diesel.

• Hydrogen infrastructure

  Hydrogen-refueling equipment

  First Mode's stated technology scope included equipment for refueling hydrogen-powered heavy-duty vehicles. This capability supported the deployment of fuel-cell mining and rail systems by addressing the infrastructure required to supply hydrogen at industrial operating sites.

• Mining equipment retrofit · 2023

  Mining-truck retrofit kits

  Under its agreement with Anglo American, First Mode planned to provide additional hybrid powerplant retrofit kits for large Komatsu haul trucks. The announced demonstration platforms included the Komatsu 930E and 830E, with the objective of testing lower-carbon propulsion on existing mining equipment.

• 2023Fast Company World Changing Ideas recognition

  International

  First Mode received recognition in Fast Company's 2023 World Changing Ideas awards for its work creating the world's largest operating hydrogen fuel-cell-powered vehicle.

  Outcome. The recognition increased the public visibility of First Mode's heavy-duty hydrogen technology demonstration.

  Source

• 2025

  Transfer First Mode assets to CumminsM&A

  Background

  Following First Mode's Chapter 11 filing and planned wind-down, its technology and operating assets became available for acquisition.

  Action taken

  Cummins acquired the hybrid mining and rail product lines, intellectual property, and operations in Australia, the United States, and Chile for its Power Systems segment.

  Aftermath

  The purchase was announced as completed on February 11, 2025, ending First Mode's independent operation.

  Source

• 2024

  Seek bankruptcy protection and wind down the standalone businessStrategy

  Background

  First Mode was unable to find a buyer for its assets and entered financial restructuring.

  Action taken

  The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and planned to sell its assets while winding down operations with support from Anglo American.

  Aftermath

  Selected assets, intellectual property, product lines, and operations were subsequently acquired by Cummins.

  Source

• 2023

  Combine First Mode with Anglo American's nuGen teamM&A

  Background

  The hydrogen and hybrid mining programs required closer integration between First Mode's technology organization and Anglo American's fleet-decarbonization activities.

  Action taken

  The companies announced a binding agreement valued at $200 million to combine First Mode with the nuGen team, making Anglo American the majority shareholder.

  Aftermath

  The transaction was accompanied by a supply agreement for additional hybrid retrofit kits for Komatsu 930E and 830E trucks.

  Binding agreement value. $200 million (Announced January 2023)

  Source

• 2022

  Introduce a hydrogen-powered mine haul truckProduct launch

  Background

  Anglo American sought to demonstrate alternatives to diesel propulsion in its mining fleet.

  Action taken

  First Mode and Anglo American converted a Komatsu 930E Haulpak and equipped it with a hydrogen fuel-cell power system for operation at Mogalakwena.

  Aftermath

  The vehicle completed operational trials in May 2023 and became First Mode's most prominent technology demonstration.

  Source

• 2019

  Develop a diesel alternative with Anglo AmericanStrategy

  Background

  Mining haul trucks are large, energy-intensive vehicles for which emissions reduction is technically challenging.

  Action taken

  First Mode entered a three-year development agreement with Anglo American focused on an alternative power system for the company's haul-truck fleet.

  Aftermath

  The partnership led to later hydrogen and hybrid demonstrations and became the foundation for Anglo American's subsequent investment relationship with First Mode.

  Source

1. 1First Modeen.wikipedia.org