Making a SuperTruck: So that's how they did it

A look from the front of the Volvo Trucks SuperTruck — "where are the mirrors?" you can't help but ask — and rear, showing swing-out trailer boat tail aerodynamics.

Instead of side-view mirrors on the truck, take a look: there are these mounts containing two cameras each. They're designed to limit aerodynamic drag to a minimum.

Inside the SuperTruck cab at both sides of the windshield are live-view displays from the cameras outside. The displays are about the size and shape of typical truck mirrors, so if you're sitting in the truck, it pretty much feels like they just moved the mirrors inside the cab.

Super-wide view from the driver's seat of the Volvo SuperTruck showing the two live-view "mirror" displays. But look toward the top of the photo just right of center — that's another live-view display from a camera, likely at the rear of the trailer.

Aerodynamic enhancements help reduce the Volvo SuperTruck's drag by 40% compared with a standard Volvo tractor and 53-ft. trailer, engineers said at the truck's official unveiling Tuesday, Sept. 13.

Close-up look at the Volvo SuperTruck's front grille. Part of the aerodynamic enhancement package includes smoothing the air entering here and flowing under the hood.

Hood popped, here's a front view of the SuperTruck's radiator and Volvo D11 diesel engine.

Passenger-side view of the Volvo SuperTruck's engine bay.

Driver's side view of the Volvo SuperTruck's D11 engine and underhood electronics.

Notice the SuperTruck doesn't have any sidesteps showing; those are hidden beneath swing-out aero panels.

Here's the SuperTruck with its passenger-side steps opened up (see panel swung out).

A look at the Volvo SuperTruck's sidesteps exposed.

One thing you'll find on Volvo's SuperTruck that likely wouldn't make it into production are carbon fiber panels like these on the tractor. But Pascal Amar, senior project manager for Volvo Group North America, told Fleet Owner there are options to get the weight reduction offered by such materials cheaper — for example, shredded, recycled carbon fiber. It might not have the neat, uniform patterns you see in firsthand carbon fiber but has similar lightness and strength, he noted.

A view from the driver's side at the tractor-trailer gap on the Volvo SuperTruck. Note the gap fairing at right curling in; see next photo for an exterior view showing how those fairings fit in aerodynamically.

Fairings extend from the back of the cab and curve in at the front of the trailer to create a much smoother gap airflow on the Volvo SuperTruck. 

Without these, the Volvo SuperTruck wouldn't be possible — the partners in the project and a bunch of physics equations such as the calculation for freight efficiency shown on the truck's trailer. Volvo's partners include ExxonMobil, Grote Industries, Metalsa, Michelin, the University of Michigan, the Pennsylvania State University and Ridge Corp.

View from the rear of the passenger side of the Volvo SuperTruck. Notice the hinges allowing the trailer boat tail to fold in; that's important for the next slide.

From about below the "P" to the "U" in "SuperTruck" on the truck's trailer graphics, see that hinging on the side skirt? That allows access to the trailer tires beneath.

A view from the rear of the SuperTruck's trailer at the superwide tires Volvo used to get lower rolling resistance and max fuel economy.

Also helping squeeze the most out of trailer efficiency is a Hendrickson TIREMAAX tire inflation system, seen here in this under-trailer photo.

Grote Industries provided lighting elements such as these rear trailer lights on the Volvo SuperTruck, and the trailer looks to be Great Dane hardware. For real-world practicality, the Volvo team started with a standard 53-ft. trailer and worked the aerodynamics from there.

There's no sunroof atop the cab of the Volvo SuperTruck; instead, there's a fairly large solar panel that helps power the air conditioning.

Did we say no sunroof on the truck? That's right, there isn't, but LED ceiling lighting seen in this photo inside the cab provides an experience similar to daylight entering almost as if there were a sunroof. Many onlookers thought this was simply a sunroof!

An ultra-wide view from the driver's seat showing the roof of the Volvo SuperTruck's cab.

Built into the front fenders, the SuperTruck's aero-smooth headlight assemblies got an angled, swept "L" design treatment.

A view of the Volvo SuperTruck's trailer graphics announcing just what this bad boy is.

Front/ driver's side view of the Volvo SuperTruck.

Rear/ driver's side view of the Volvo SuperTruck.