BTE quantifies the fraction of the fuel’s chemical energy that is converted into useful work by the engine system. FTE quantifies the mass and distance of freight transported per unit of fuel consumed.

Cummins and Peterbilt teamed together for SuperTruck I, first demonstrating more than 50% BTE and analytically defining technologies needed to achieve 55% BTE. Their demonstration tractor-trailer averaged a 76% increase in drive cycle FTE and a 43% reduction in GHG emissions versus a 2009 baseline truck.

As evidence of the favorable market impact that DOE partnered research and development continues to have, many of the engine and drivetrain efficiency improvements and vehicle power demand reductions pioneered in SuperTruck I are headed for production with the latest model year 2017 product offerings by Cummins, Peterbilt and its key product delivery partners.

The full team of project partners includes Peterbilt, Eaton and Bridgestone. Other key suppliers, labs and universities making critical contributions toward the project goals include Great Dane, Exa Corporation, Meritor, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Purdue University.

The team’s customer council, led by Walmart Transportation, LLC, will provide important information on routes, technology needs, and critical market input, aimed at fostering more rapid market adoption of SuperTruck technologies.

Subject to appropriations, the DOE will fund four projects to develop and demonstrate cost-effective technologies that more than double the freight efficiency of Class 8 trucks over the 2009 baseline. The goal of the program is to accelerate the pace of reductions in petroleum consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the nation’s freight transportation system.