The 2025 Alternative Engine, XCURSOR 13, Taking Center Stage at the Sustainable Truck of the Year

By definition, the Alternative Engine Award was conceived by the editorial staff of POWERTRAIN International to recognize the internal combustion engine as a bridge technology for the transition, rather than its negative pole. The award-winning engine is required to be flexible—or ‘agnostic,’ as defined by the winners of the first two editions; in short, it must be multi-fuel. The victory of the IVECO S-Way LNG at the Sustainable Truck of the Year 2026 Awards gives the AEA more meaning than ever, as the XCURSOR 13 is the powerhouse under the hood of this long-haul truck.

The XCURSOR 13 for the IVECO S-Way LNG

Natural gas, including its liquefied form (LNG), is undoubtedly one of the aces up the sleeve that every Alternative Engine Award (AEA) contender should possess. As is well known, FPT is a pioneer in the on-road application of this technology, which has benefited the S-Way and the Stralis before it.

“We are pleased that our long-standing commitment to innovation and research in natural gas engines, a journey that began in 1997 with the launch of our first NG engine and has since positioned us as a clear market leader, continues to receive industry-wide recognition and appreciation,” commented Fabio Guerrisi, Head of On-Road Sales at FPT. “With over 100,000 natural gas engine units sold worldwide, FPT has built a solid reputation in this field. The XCURSOR 13 NG embodies our leadership in natural gas, and introduces a multi‑fuel engine concept, based on a single platform, and designed to run on diesel, methane and, in the future, hydrogen.”

According to IVECO

The XCURSOR 13 NG is the most powerful natural gas engine on the market, offering 500 hp with 2,200 Nm of torque. Alongside outstanding performance, sustainability is a key strength of this engine. The XCURSOR 13 NG plays a crucial role in Iveco Group’s decarbonization program, delivering CO₂ emission reductions of up to 8% compared to the MY22 version. Significant improvements are also reflected in the engine’s reduced weight (‑10% compared to the previous generation), lower fuel consumption, and reduced engine noise compared to diesel models, thanks to FPT’s multipoint stoichiometric combustion technology.

About Sustainable Truck of the Year

Established in 2016 by Italian industry magazine Vado e Torno, the Sustainable Truck of the Year awards are assigned annually by an independent jury of specialized journalists. Their assessment covers sustainability and efficiency criteria, including emissions reduction, safety performance, driving comfort, and overall environmental impact.

And the Winner of the 2026 AEA Edition

The winner of the second edition is another well-known ‘agnostic’ in the industrial application field: the Cummins X15.