Photo: U.S. Dept. of Energy
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SuperTruck II and beyond: More money on the table for innovation

Aug. 18, 2016
Just as new emissions and fuel efficiency standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks were finalized Tuesday, the U.S. Dept. of Energy announced it's looking to put more money where the government's mouth is in terms of reducing carbon emissions and petroleum consumption.

Just as new emissions and fuel efficiency standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks were finalized Tuesday, the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) announced it's looking to put more money where the government's mouth is in terms of reducing carbon emissions and petroleum consumption.

The goal is to spur development of new, cost-effective technologies that will accomplish that for all vehicles, from passenger cars to heavy trucks. DOE counts its first SuperTruck program — which it says led to "more than 20" fuel-saving technologies now available for heavy trucks — a great success, and announced another $80 million in grants earlier this year for the next wave of that project.

SuperTruck II grants will fund four projects to demonstrate new advancements "that more than double the freight efficiency of Class 8 trucks," according to DOE.

In addition to those funds, DOE is putting up another $57 million to fund a diverse range of 35 projects in 19 states across the country, many of them to be carried out at universities. All $137 million in grant money is, of course, subject to the department's appropriations.

These projects will target goals such as:

• Demonstrating plug-in electric vehicles to the public;

• Developing charging systems and grid modernization to support electric vehicles;

• Investigating the use of lightweight magnesium sheet metal for vehicles;

• Demonstrating steel-aluminum and aluminum-carbon fiber dissimilar materials joining for vehicles;

• Advancing production of low-cost electric drive motors;

• Developing next-generation metals and chemicals for batteries; and

• Developing new engine and powertrain systems.

Most of these additional projects target electric vehicle advancement and public awareness and improved battery technology, but a number of them could also be directly applied to the full light-heavy vehicle range, regardless of underhood motivation. Advanced lightweight materials production is one example. Click here to view the full list.

General Motors also stands to receive $1.9 million in grant funds to "develop and demonstrate technologies to enable a downsized, boosted, lean, low-temperature gasoline engine combustion system." And UPS will get nearly $1 million for a project to "eliminate or mitigate the negative effects" of diesel exhaust after-treatment on dual-fuel Class 7 and 8 trucks.

Even 3D printing advancement is included, perhaps not surprisingly. The University of Florida will get a nearly $1 million grant to develop "high-temperature, high-strength and lightweight alloys" for 3D laser printers in making things like internal combustion engines.

Here's more on heavy duty truck efficiency from DOE:

About the Author

Aaron Marsh

Before computerization had fully taken hold and automotive work took someone who speaks engine, Aaron grew up in Upstate New York taking cars apart and fixing and rewiring them, keeping more than a few great jalopies (classics) on the road that probably didn't deserve to be. He spent a decade inside the Beltway covering Congress and the intricacies of the health care system before a stint in local New England news, picking up awards for both pen and camera.

He wrote about you-name-it, from transportation and law and the courts to events of all kinds and telecommunications, and landed in trucking when he joined FleetOwner in July 2015. Long an editorial leader, he was a keeper of knowledge at FleetOwner ready to dive in on the technical and the topical inside and all-around trucking—and still turned a wrench or two. Or three. 

Aaron previously wrote for FleetOwner. 

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