LAS VEGAS—Kenworth debuted its SuperTruck 2 demonstrator vehicle at the ACT Expo.
The SuperTruck program, funded by the Department of Energy, awarded $80 million to four Class 8 truck OEMs to “develop and demonstrate cost-effective technologies that more than double the freight efficiency of Class 8 trucks,” according to a DOE statement. Kenworth exceeded the goal: the Kenworth SuperTruck 2 is 136% more efficient than the brand’s baseline model, the 2009 Kenworth T660.
The truck features a futuristic look that resembles a bullet train. It also features a center driving position, and it even has a sleeper compartment, complete with a sofa and a murphy bed that folds down to accommodate long hauls.
While the aesthetics and driver necessities were added to the Kenworth SuperTruck 2, those aspects only came secondary.
“The objective was to increase freight efficiency by over 100% and to increase our engine efficiency to as high as possible,” said Joe Adams, Kenworth’s chief engineer. “We set ourselves an internal target of 55% [engine efficiency].”
Adams added that the 136% efficiency gain was achieved by improving three aspects of the truck: aerodynamics, powertrain, and weight reduction.
Read more at FleetOwner.com, a Bulk Transporter affiliate.
