Volvo’s SuperTruck 2 Exceeds Expectations, Increases Freight Efficiency By 134%

Volvo Trucks North America recently debuted its SuperTruck 2 on the Volvo Trucks YouTube channel. The SuperTruck 2 program is Volvo’s response to a challenge issued by the U.S. Department of Energy to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to improve freight efficiency by 100% compared to data they submitted in 2009.

Volvo achieved a 134% increase in efficiency, far exceeding the challenge goal. The SuperTruck 2 is appearing in public for the first time at the American Trucking Association’s 2022 Management Conference & Exhibition (ATA MC&E) through October 17 in Austin, Texas.

“Partnering with the DOE for the SuperTruck program provides an exciting opportunity to push the technology envelope to see what’s technically possible for heavy-duty transportation and which solutions can be scaled into production, but equally important, which solutions don't work for scaled production,” says Volvo Trucks North America President Peter Voorhoeve.

SuperTruck 2 Particulars

The SuperTruck 2 is a research and development program for the improvement of efficiency in heavy-duty Class 8 long-haul tractor-trailer trucks. Volvo Trucks used advanced aerodynamics to optimize fuel efficiency. The wedge-shaped cab has a raked wraparound windshield, and a front end designed with a smaller cooling package. The aerodynamic trailer has gap fairings, skirts, and a boat tail. The traditional hood- and cab-mounted mirrors were replaced with a camera monitoring system, which reduced drag by over 4%.

The tractor-trailer combo resulted in 50% less drag over Volvo’s 2009 baseline and a 20% improvement over Volvo’s SuperTruck 1. Along with aerodynamic advancements, the SuperTruck 2 weighs just 27,000 pounds (12,247 kilograms), a reduction that’s made possible in part by using a 4x2 configuration that is common in Europe. The design could be applied to a 6x2 or 6x4 configuration as well, though that was not part of the program’s specific demonstrator validation. The shorter cab design and aluminum chassis with lightweight drive axle system with a single composite driveshaft contribute to the truck’s lower weight, as well.

Efficient Even At Rest

The SuperTruck 2 also has a 48-volt micro-hybrid system to serve as a generator and starter to power the all-electric HVAC system and other features for driver comfort to avoid idling during rest breaks and still power amenities.

“The project team deliberately focused on driving in real-world conditions for testing,” says Voorhoeve. “Data wasn’t just gathered in a lab or on flat, empty roads with optimal conditions and a light load. Instead, our SuperTruck 2 was tested in real-world scenarios on roads with traffic and elevation changes with a GCVW of 65,000 lbs. This is the most aerodynamic and efficient truck Volvo has built to date, and we achieved a freight efficiency that demonstrates the potential for technology innovations to be developed commercially.”

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Source: Volvo