ACT Expo, Kenworth unveils the innovative “mild” hybrid SuperTruck 2

Result of a joint investment by the DOE and PACCAR, the SuperTruck 2 demonstrator vehicle unveiled by Kenworth (a PACCAR company) at ACT Expo was developed over a six-year period as part of a collaboration with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) SuperTruck program.

Kenworth SuperTruck 2: engine and transmission

From an engine and transmission standpoint, Kenworth’s SuperTruck 2 utilizes a PACCAR MX-11 engine, rated at 440 hp, which is driven through a PACCAR TX-12 automated transmission. In addition, the truck features a 48-volt electric generator. This creates a “mild” hybrid system and leverages next generation lithium-ion batteries. The batteries are re-charged through regenerative braking. This allows Kenworth’s SuperTruck 2 to operate electric fans, electric steering, and power for electric coolant and HVAC pumps, which were previously mechanically driven.

The SuperTruck 2 team managed a parallel project for energy efficiency testing by combining a PACCAR MX-11 based engine, the mild hybrid based 48-volt auxiliaries and energy waste recovery to bench test a program record 55.7% engine efficiency. “We did this while keeping in mind the technologies we developed needed to be commercially viable,” said Maarten Meijer, PACCAR’s senior engineering manager for advanced technology. “Today’s modern diesel engine demonstrates around 47% efficiency. Reaching 55.7% was a major step forward and could only be done by applying new technologies that had not been explored until today. To put that efficiency number into perspective, if this engine were to go into production, it would lead to a 10% fuel efficiency improvement. That’s an astonishing number.”

A “center driver” cab

The unique look of Kenworth’s SuperTruck 2 features a “center driver” cab, along with a new sleeper compartment. It’s a look that resembles a bullet train. “We wanted to push this beyond just a demonstrator truck,” added Jonathan Duncan, Kenworth’s design director. “We wanted to show something dynamic and what the future of Kenworth might look like. Our headlamps take up the entire front fender of the truck. It’s striking — you can’t miss it as it’s going down the road”. The aerodynamic design was enabled thanks in part by the location of the powertrain content, which fits between the frame rails. This also allowed the engine to be lowered and placed behind the front axle.

The overall layout designed to be powertrain agnostic

Even though SuperTruck 2 is powered by a diesel engine, Kenworth is thinking toward the future. The overall layout was designed to be powertrain agnostic. To support zero and near-zero emission solutions, the truck can efficiently package fuel cells, hydrogen tanks, natural gas tanks, or batteries without changing the basic cab.

“The goal was a 100% freight efficiency improvement over our 2009 Kenworth T660, which at the time was arguably the most fuel-efficient truck in the industry. We surpassed the performance of that model to improve efficiency by up to 136%,” said Jim Walenczak, general manager of Kenworth and PACCAR vice president.