With this super truck, the North American manufacturer achieved 136% fuel efficiency compared to a conventional 2009 model.
He super truck which has just been presented by the renowned truck manufacturer Kenworth at the ACT Expo, in Las Vegas, United States, is nothing less than the Super Truck 2a heavy vehicle that began as a test prototype and that today is nothing less than the model to follow due to its innovations.
Developed over a six-year period as part of a collaboration with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) SuperTruck program, designed to challenge truck manufacturers to improve transportation efficiency using a diesel engine as the primary power source , the super truck from Kenworth and Paccar managed to surpass everything known in terms of consumption.
Kenworth SuperTruk 2, the most efficient super truck in the world
The objective that Paccar, the company that owns Kenworth, sought with the SuperTruck 2 concept was improve transportation efficiency by 100% compared to its T660 model that was launched in 2009 and which at the time was the most fuel efficient truck in the industry.
According to the tests carried out on all types of routes and conditions, the final result was better than the objective set: the super truck obtained performance of up to 136%that is, consumption was practically reduced by half.
This was achieved through a combination of improving fuel efficiency to approximately 18.3 liters per 100 kilometers (12.8 miles per gallon) and, at the same time, reducing combined weight by 3,175 kg (7,000 lb). “The result was the ability to carry more payload with an ultra-fuel-efficient truck-trailer combination,” assured said Jim Walenczak, CEO of Kenworth and vice president of PACCAR.
To reach this figure that positions the group with a consumption very similar to that of a full-size pickup like the Ford F-150 with its V6 engine Base, the super truck maintains a modern exterior design, but the powertrain and driver amenities underwent major changes.
“We started with an ideal aerodynamic shape and then asked ourselves: What will the next generation vehicle for long-distance transportation look like?” “What we produced exceeds the limits in reducing aerodynamic resistance and although it is a futuristic-looking vehicle, it has the potential to be mass produced,” he pointed Joe Adams, chief designer at Kenworth.
The SuperTruck 2 has a “center driver” cabin and a modern rest area. The aerodynamic design is supported by placing the drivetrain hardware between the frame rails and behind the front axle. Additionally, a variable suspension system to customize ride height and optimize aerodynamics. This offers a 48% reduction in aerodynamic drag compared to a conventional Kenworth model.
But it’s not all aerodynamics. The super truck uses an engine Paccar MX-11, an 11-liter “inline 6” that delivers 440 horsepower which is combined with a Paccar TX-12 automated transmission, and adds a 48v electric generatorcreating a mild-hybrid system that uses lithium-ion batteries.
The system, which is recharged through regenerative braking, can power fans, steering, electrical components, cooling systems, braking systems and an exhaust heater for emissions aftertreatment. Result? With the 48v system powering the auxiliaries, the MX-11 engine achieved an energy efficiency of 55.7%.
Even though this modern super truck works was developed with a diesel enginethe design supports the use of fuel cells, hydrogen or natural gas tanks and batteries without having to make changes to the chassis or cabin.
In addition to Kenworth, there are associated companies that also worked on the project such as AVL (engine development); Eaton (powertrain); the National Renewable Energy Laboratory; and Ohio State University.
