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Old 03-27-2015, 07:48 PM   #1 (permalink)
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SuperTruck hauls goods, sips fuel

Freightliner SuperTruck hauls goods, sips fuel
Freightliner SuperTruck hauls goods, sips fuel | Fox News


By Gary Gastelu
·Published March 26, 2015
·FoxNews.com


Freightliner has unveiled the result of its SuperTruck project, and it lives up to the name.

The tractor-trailer was developed in partnership with a five-year, $115 million Department of Energy program that challenged truck makers to improve big rig fuel economy by at least 50 percent, and match the funding by the same amount.






Freightliner did that, and more. Its loaded 65,000-pound semi returned 12.2 mpg during a real world highway test, 115 percent better than the average truck on the road tod

The SuperTruck features a hybrid drivetrain with an 11-liter diesel engine and electric motor. Most of its accessories, including the air conditioning are run off the battery, instead of belts attached to the engine. There’s a waste heat recovery system that uses the exhaust to generate additional electricity by boiling water like a power plant, and solar panels on the roof of the trailer that can fully run its climate control system on a sunny day.

The computer-controlled transmission is connected to the navigation system and can plan its shifts ahead of changes in the terrain, even shifting into neutral to coast under certain circumstances, like when it’s cresting a hill. On the way down, the electric motor helps slow the truck down and charge the battery.

And aerodynamic design also plays a key role in the SuperTruck’s efficiency. It has a laid back windshield, skirted wheels, and extenders on the side of the tractor that close the gap between it and the trailer, where the air can get very turbulent in conventional trucks. The grille automatically closes to streamline things even more, opening only when engine cooling is needed, while the suspension can lower the front of the truck at highway speeds.

A newly-designed frame and lightweight materials used throughout its sleeper cab help reduce weight, and an on-demand steering assist system only draws power when the wheels are turned.

The SuperTruck would save a typical long haul trucker around 10,000 gallons of fuel per year, which translates to over $28,000 at today’s prices, but it’s only a concept, and not destined for production as it is. However, Freightliner has already been integrating several of its features, like the smart transmission and some of the aerodynamic tweaks, into its latest products

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ECO MODS PERFORMED:
First: ScangaugeII
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...eii-23306.html

Second: Grille Block
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...e-10912-2.html

Third: Full underbelly pan
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...q45-11402.html

Fourth: rear skirts and 30.4mpg on trip!
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post247938
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Old 03-27-2015, 08:10 PM   #2 (permalink)
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Looks EXECTLY like shepherd's rig that he built without $115 million. Glad truck companies are trying though, definitely a step in the right direction.
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Old 03-27-2015, 09:52 PM   #3 (permalink)
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How long before Fox plays it up as unAmerican, or anti-business because it's all about burning less fuel?
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Old 03-27-2015, 11:01 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Well isn't that a well thought out and reasoned question?

....said no one!
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ECO MODS PERFORMED:
First: ScangaugeII
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...eii-23306.html

Second: Grille Block
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...e-10912-2.html

Third: Full underbelly pan
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...q45-11402.html

Fourth: rear skirts and 30.4mpg on trip!
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post247938
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Old 03-27-2015, 11:48 PM   #5 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mcrews View Post
Well isn't that a well thought out and reasoned question?
Yes, it is:

Fox Reporter Conjures Mystery Numbers For New Tesla Attack | Blog | Media Matters for America

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...ews+chevy+volt

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...rgy+efficiency

The two google searches have plenty of goodies... and I only looked at the first page. There's probably a lot more...

P.S. Must have been a USCAR/PNGV type coalition for trucks that wrapped up recently- I posted this from IH: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ers-31568.html
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Old 03-28-2015, 01:53 PM   #6 (permalink)
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The point is good ideas don't need my money to prove and develop. If trucking companies want to save money thereby increasing profits let them pay the 115 million dollar bill themselves. Also, no way they spent 115 million putting some aero mods and solar panels on an existing truck. So if Fox news questions something like this, or the money pissed away on Solrinda or Tesla or bailouts of GM suddenly they are wrong to even question?
The truck is cool though.
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Old 03-28-2015, 03:18 PM   #7 (permalink)
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From a purely economical standpoint I am curious how long it would take for the extra cost to manufacture and maintain something like this would pay for the fuel savings over the life of the truck.
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Old 03-28-2015, 03:31 PM   #8 (permalink)
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$28000 less a year in fuel cost, saving 10k gallons or half the fuel normally consumed..

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mech
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Old 03-28-2015, 10:23 PM   #9 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by elhigh View Post
How long before Fox plays it up as unAmerican, or anti-business because it's all about burning less fuel?
Often wondered if Fox News is just a front for the Oil companies.
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Old 03-28-2015, 10:25 PM   #10 (permalink)
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They're shills for Big Anything.

IDK how people can subject themselves to it.

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