NEWS BRIEFS: SUPERTRUCK
SuperTruck 3 Program Participants Named
The DOE has announced which manufacturers will take part in the third SuperTruck program which aims to further improve freight efficiency.
The Freightliner eCascadia includes features developed during DTNA’s participation in the previous SuperTruck programs.
by Sara Jensen DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA
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n April 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced it would initiate a third iteration of the SuperTruck program which challenges OEMs and component manufacturers in the heavy truck industry to develop solutions to improve freight efficiency. For SuperTruck 3, medium- and heavy-duty truck technologies will be evaluated, including electrification and hydrogen solutions. On November 1, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm announced the DOE will award $199 million in funding for 25 projects focused on developing cleaner technologies for cars and trucks. Among these projects is the SuperTruck 3 program. The funding is in line with President Biden’s announcement in April for half of all vehicles sold in the U.S. to be zero-emissions vehicles by 2030 while also achieving net zero emissions economy wide by 2050, reports the DOE in its press release announcing the new funding.
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Companies selected for SuperTruck 3 The DOE has selected five heavy vehicle manufacturers to participate in the SuperTruck 3 program. A total of $127 million will be provided to the companies as part of the cost-shared project which aims to develop electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks as well as freight system concepts with the goal of achieving higher efficiency and zero emissions, according to the DOE. Funding will be provided over 5 years and those participating in the program will match federal funding dollar for dollar. Per the DOE’s press release, the companies selected for this iteration of SuperTruck are: • PACCAR Inc. (Bellevue, WA) will develop 18 Class 8 battery-electric and fuel cell vehicles with advanced batteries and a megawatt charging station will also be developed and demonstrated. • Volvo Group North America, LLC (Greensboro, NC) will develop a
OEM Off-Highway | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
400-mile-range Class-8 battery electric tractor-trailer with advanced aerodynamics, electric braking, EV optimized tires, automation and route planning. A megawatt charging station will be developed and demonstrated. • Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (Portland, OR) will develop and demonstrate two Class 8 fuel cell trucks with 600-mile range, 25,000hour durability, equivalent payload capacity and range to diesel. • Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, MI) will develop and demonstrate five hydrogen fuel cell electric Class-6 Super Duty trucks targeting cost, payload, towing, and refueling times that are equivalent to conventional gasoline trucks. • General Motors, LLC (Pontiac, MI) will develop and demonstrate four hydrogen fuel cell and four battery electric Class 4-6 trucks. The project will also focus on development of clean hydrogen via electrolysis and clean power for fast charging.
