Freightliner’s SuperTruck II Debuts Newest Effectivity Improvements – Gasoline Smarts
DTNA and Freightliner’s SuperTruck II demonstrator truck is essentially the most aerodynamic Freightliner ever constructed, and it integrates its most effective powertrain but.
Picture: DTNA
Daimler Truck North America and its model Freightliner debuted the SuperTruck II, a demonstrator heavy-duty truck designed to showcase modern options which might be poised to ship the subsequent degree of freight effectivity.
As a part of the SuperTruck program co-funded by the U.S. Division of Power with the purpose to cut back emissions from on-road freight transportation, DTNA engineers had been capable of examine next-generation applied sciences for heavy-duty industrial vans and to clear the technical pathway for his or her improvement and potential integration into sequence manufacturing.
We got down to not simply meet the targets of the SuperTruck II problem, however to exceed them. The outcome: the Freightliner #SuperTruckII https://t.co/SL5N7A5zjq pic.twitter.com/EeWkV7Ld3E
— Freightliner Vehicles (@freightliner) February 1, 2023
Focus was on growing new applied sciences on essentially the most promising core parts and programs to enhance the real-world operational effectivity. Areas for expertise improvements that would probably enter manufacturing for purchasers sooner or later had been:
- enhanced tractor aerodynamics
- powertrain enhancements
- low-rolling resistance tires
- power administration
“Taken all collectively, the mixed improvements developed for the Freightliner SuperTruck II have supplied us the chance to discover the applied sciences wanted to satisfy stringent and forthcoming greenhouse fuel discount necessities within the coming years,” mentioned Rainer Mueller-Finkeldei, DTNA’s senior vp of engineering and expertise, in a press launch.
Constructing on the success of SuperTruck I, which overachieved DOE necessities in 2015, SuperTruck II surpassed expectations in aerodynamics, tires, powertrain and power administration, whereas doubling the freight effectivity of the bottom car from the beginning of the SuperTruck program.
SuperTruck II: Most Aerodynamic Truck Freightliner Has Ever Constructed
In shut collaboration between the design and engineering departments, the groups decreased the aerodynamic drag of SuperTruck II by greater than 12% over SuperTruck I.
The aerodynamic drag of SuperTruck II was decreased by greater than 12% over SuperTruck I.
Picture: DTNA
The aerodynamic options embrace:
- The grille, air intakes and doorways had been redesigned to be as seamless and clear as attainable; no sharp edges compromise the aerodynamics.
- Lively facet extenders and a roof spoiler system closes the trailer hole by as much as 4 inches at freeway speeds.
- Enhanced aerodynamic peak management lowers the truck inches off the bottom for extra aerodynamic enhancements.
- Because of federal exemption by the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) for this system, by eradicating the outside mirrors and integrating a mirrorless digital camera system the aerodynamic drag of SuperTruck II was considerably decreased. The cameras have been examined beneath all climate circumstances and have proven “nice promise in enhancing the motive force’s visibility and improved car security,” which helps advocacy for future regulatory modifications that will allow the widespread adoption of this superior expertise by producers, DTNA officers mentioned.
As a substitute of radically altering the construction of the truck, the design objective for SuperTruck II was to redefine the present form of the Freightliner Cascadia to maximise aerodynamic effectivity.
The grille, air intakes and doorways of the SuperTruck II had been redesigned to be as seamless as attainable.
Picture: DTNA
“The designers imagined the surfaces of the truck being carved away by the wind,” mentioned Jeff Cotner, chief designer at DTNA. “Nature has a method of making the right sculptural form, when the fabric is mild and ethereal like snow or sand. This was our inspiration in creating the brand new expressive kind language for the Freightliner model.”
Cotner added: “Generally what the attention sees is just not what the air sees. We let the areas most crucial to aero efficiency design themselves and built-in the extra expressive strains within the locations the place the drag is impartial. Our objective was to realize as a lot freight effectivity as attainable and create a good looking trying truck on the identical time. It was necessary to us that we didn’t change one thing only for the sake of adjusting it.”
“We let the areas most crucial to aero efficiency design themselves,” mentioned Jeff Cotner, chief designer at DTNA.
Picture: DTNA
The redesigned hood, bumper and chassis fairing all work nicely with the present cab construction and now permit the air to move undisturbed across the truck.
SuperTruck II Powertrain Effectivity Enhancements
DTNA says the SuperTruck II options essentially the most environment friendly powertrain Freightliner has built-in right into a truck. The powertrain allows a 5.7% gas consumption discount over SuperTruck I.
With a non-certified prototype Detroit 13-liter engine that includes two-stage turbo and interstage cooling and a 13-speed overdrive transmission, the powertrain is ready to obtain decrease downspeeding and larger gas financial savings by way of decreased drag overdrive.
One key powertrain characteristic of SuperTruck II is break up cooling. This method consists of excessive temperature and low temperature cooling circuits, working in tandem with two-stage turbocharging and exhaust fuel recirculation cooling on the engine. Collectively, these applied sciences end in additional effectivity positive aspects enabling extra aggressive downspeeding.
A wise engine lubrication circuit minimizes inner pumping losses, thus lowering engine parasitics by actively proportioning move to essentially the most delicate parts.
With adaptive tandem axles one other innovation helps growing gas effectivity. It permits elevated torque from the fuel-efficient powertrains and robotically shifts from 6×4 to 6×2 at freeway speeds which advantages the motive force when maneuvering in low pace.
SuperTruck II Options Low-Rolling Resistance Tires
DTNA once more collaborated with SuperTruck I associate Michelin on the event of name new tires particularly designed for adaptive tandem axles to not solely cut back car power consumption but in addition to cut back upkeep downtime resulting from minimized put on and tear on the tires.
Tires play a important function to attaining that objective. By reducing the friction on the street, much less gas is required to take care of the truck pace, DTNA officers mentioned.
The engineers had been capable of considerably cut back the tractor rolling resistance by 12% over SuperTruck I.
By eradicating exterior mirrors and integrating a mirrorless digital camera system the aerodynamic drag of SuperTruck II was considerably decreased.
Picture: DTNA
In co-development with DTNA, Michelin designed tires particularly for the steer, drive and tag axles of SuperTruck II. The introduction of dynamic load shift additional will increase effectivity and gas financial savings. With this expertise, among the load can be shifted robotically from the drive axle to the tag axle to reap the benefits of the tag tire low rolling resistance.
The general design of the brand new tires included improvement of recent treads and compounds that translated into greater than 20% enhancements in drive tire put on and tear and general considerably improved rolling resistance.
Power Administration Options of the SuperTruck II
SuperTruck II options an modern 48-volt electrical system with lithium-ion batteries, enabling a brand new electrical steering system to regulate demand as wanted, whether or not the operator is maneuvering at low pace or driving at freeway speeds, or to function throughout EcoSail whereas the engine is off.
The clever EcoSail characteristic can flip the engine off when drive energy is just not wanted, with out requiring any intervention from the motive force. On the identical time, if the truck is coasting down a hill whereas the engine is off, options like air con stay in operation. As quickly as energy is required, the engine will restart robotically for a seamless expertise for the motive force.
Extra 48-volt options end in decreased gas consumption and elevated driver consolation like a brand new electrical air con system that consumes 50% much less power than SuperTruck I and continues operations whereas the engine is turned off.
A brand new 48-volt starter activates the engine with extra energy and pace.
Lastly, the brand new 48-volt electrical system operates the hoteling options with out the engine operating whereas delivering 12- volt energy for the usual cab objects like lighting or the instrument cluster.
