DOE Debuts 2nd Phase of SuperTruck
In its effort to continue to enhance energy efficiency across the trucking industry, the Department of Energy announced a second phase of its popular SuperTruck program.
DOE Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Reuben Sarkar on March 1 announced the launch of the department’s SuperTruck II program, which will be backed by $80 million in funding, pending congressional approval.
“Improving the efficiency of commercial trucks is critical to reducing our petroleum consumption, strengthening our clean energy economy and further reducing our contributions to climate change,” Sarkar said at a Green Truck Summit in Indianapolis.
“This new funding will not only accelerate innovation but also foster rapid market adoption of new energy-efficient vehicle technologies,” added Sarkar, who works at the agency’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, where he oversees Sustainable Transportation. That area includes the Vehicle, Fuel Cell, and Bioenergy Technologies offices.
The new SuperTruck program will aim to develop technologies meant to advance heavy-truck freight efficiency by more than 100% over model year 2009 vehicles, DOE said. The program also will look to ensure newly developed technologies stay cost-effective and are accessible.
“SuperTruck II projects will utilize a wide variety of truck and trailer technology approaches to achieve performance targets, such as improvements in engine efficiency, drivetrain efficiency, aerodynamic drag, tire rolling resistance and vehicle weight,” according to DOE.
Nearly three-quarters of domestic freight is transported via Class 8 vehicles, according to DOE.
Congressional leaders must sign off on the funding for the SuperTruck II program. Congress signed off on $20 million for the program in fiscal 2016. The department is requesting $60 million more for fiscal 2017.
DOE also announced $12 million in grants for three new cost-shared projects that would develop plug-in powertrain technology for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. They are: Robert Bosch, Cummins Corporate Research and Technology and McLaren Performance Technologies. Each will receive funding to create fuel-efficient or plug-in technologies for trucks.
DOE unveiled the SuperTruck program in 2010. Vehicles developed under SuperTruck boost tractor-trailer fuel, engine and drivetrain efficiency.
Leading original equipment manufacturers accepted the challenge.
Daimler Trucks North America unveiled its concept Freightliner SuperTruck last year as the centerpiece of its exhibit space at the Mid-America Trucking Show.
Volvo Trucks North America also is developing a SuperTruck, which is targeted for completion in 2017.
Navistar International Corp. also is a participant.
Likewise, Cummins teamed with Peterbilt Motors Co., a Paccar Inc. subsidiary, for a concept truck using the Peterbilt Model 579 with aerodynamic innovations. The engine, based on Cummins’ ISX15, converts exhaust heat into power delivered to the crankshaft.
