First Mode
{{Short description|British decarbonization company}}
{{refimprove|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = First Mode Holdings, Inc.
| logo = First Mode Organization Logo.png
| logo_alt = First Mode's logo
| type = Subsidiary
| industry = Industrial services
| founded = {{Start date and age|2018|03|14}} in Seattle, Washington, U.S.
| founder = {{Unbulleted list|Rhae Adams|Spencer Anunsen|Colin Bateson|Riley Chapin|Krunal Desai|Brian Geddes|Peter Illsley|Maggie Scholtz|Josh Sweere|Chris Voorhees|Josh Weiss}}
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list|Julian Soles (CEO)}}
| products = {{Unbulleted list|Hybrid powerplants|Vehicle retrofit kits|Liquid hydrogen refueling stations}}
| num_employees = 175 (2024)
| website = {{URL|https://firstmode.com}}
}}
First Mode is a multinational decarbonization 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’s 2023 World Changing Ideas awards for the creation of the world's largest operating hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle.{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Adele |date=2 May 2023 |title=This massive zero-emissions truck can help shrink mining's footprint |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90865592/first-mode-nugen-zero-emissions-mining-truck |access-date=5 July 2023 |website=Fast Company}}
History
First Mode was founded on March 14, 2018 in the Seattle, Washington area by 11 former members of asteroid mining company Planetary Resources.{{Cite web |last=Mittge |first=Brian |date=20 June 2023 |title=Heavy-duty hydrogen |url=https://joom.ag/v3Rd/p26 |access-date=7 August 2023 |publisher=Washington Business Magazine |pages=26–28}}
First Mode partnered with mining corporation Anglo American plc in 2019, signing a three-year agreement to develop a diesel alternative for the company's fleet of mining haul trucks.{{Cite web |last=Conroy |first=Bill |date=18 December 2019 |title=First Mode Inks $13.5M Contract to Develop Green Technologies for Mining Giant Anglo American |url=https://seattlebusinessmag.com/manufacturing/first-mode-inks-135m-contract-develop-green-technologies-mining-giant-anglo-american/ |access-date=7 August 2023 |website=Seattle Business Magazine}}
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.{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=Adeline |date=6 October 2022 |title=The world's first hydrogen-powered haul truck could help clean up the mining industry |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/06/world/hydrogen-mining-truck-first-mode-anglo-american-climate-spc-intl/index.html |access-date=7 August 2023 |website=CNN}} It successfully completed operational trials in May 2023.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Paul |date=July 2023 |title=An orchestrated ecosystem |url=https://joom.ag/6ORd/p46 |publisher=International Mining |pages=42–44}}
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.{{Cite web |date=8 December 2022 |title=Anglo combines nuGen™ Zero Emissions Haulage Solution with First Mode |url=https://www.miningreview.com/energy/anglo-invests-200-million-to-accelerate-zero-emissions-haulage-solution/ |access-date=7 August 2023 |website=Mining Review Africa}} 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 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.{{Cite web|url= https://www.geekwire.com/2024/first-mode-files-for-bankruptcy-in-sudden-downfall-for-clean-trucking-company/|title= First Mode files for bankruptcy in sudden downfall for clean trucking company|last=Soper|first=Taylor|date=December 17, 2024|access-date=December 19, 2024|website=GeekWire|language=en}}
In February 2025 Cummins 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.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-11 |title=Cummins acquires First Mode assets for decarbonization leadership in mining |url=https://www.cummins.com/news/releases/2025/02/11/cummins-acquires-first-mode-assets-decarbonization-leadership-mining |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Cummins Inc. |language=en}}
See also
References
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