Collaborative Process Seeks Energy Efficiency Improvements
Applicable Globally
SONOMA, Calif., April 19, 2018 /CNW/ -- Shell Lubricants and
AirFlow Truck Company have unveiled a new hyper fuel-efficient
truck. This next-generation vehicle, named Starship, was designed
and built by the companies with the aim of demonstrating what is
possible in reducing energy demand in freight transportation. It
uses currently available technologies to minimise the amount of
energy it takes to transport a load of cargo from one point to
another. The truck is currently on public display at the free Shell
Make the Future California event at Sonoma Raceway.
(www.shell.us/makethefuturecalifornia)
"We seek projects such as the Starship initiative to keep Shell
at the leading edge of technology development and energy
efficiency. Working with AirFlow Truck Company and other suppliers
gives Shell Lubricants the opportunity to align with innovative
companies to explore what is really possible in fuel efficiency"
says Robert Mainwaring, Technology
Manager for Innovation, Shell Lubricants. "Transport accounts for
more than one quarter of the world's total energy use and one-fifth
of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions: 72 % of
which is attributable to road transportation of which trucks make
up a significant part. Increasing efficiency and fuel economy in
the commercial transport sector could therefore make considerable
progress to help reduce emissions."
With new fuel economy regulations on the horizon across the
globe and the need for continuing advances in fuel economy, Shell
Lubricants recognises that a holistic approach to making advances
is important. However, obtaining significant fuel economy
improvements in heavy duty trucks is a challenging process given
the size and construction of a tractor and trailer and it is an
area which has not had much focus in recent decades.
"Shell firmly believes that collaborative, co-engineering,
relationships are essential to the effective reduction in emissions
and enhancements in efficiency and have developed such
co-engineering relationships with several world leading OEMs," said
Mainwaring. "The relationship with the AirFlow Truck Company and
other suppliers to build the Starship Project is part of a
collaborative process led by Shell that encourages co-engineering,
and has resulted in a truck that will be used to challenge how
trucking efficiency is defined. In recent years, we developed a
concept car which explored the role that light weighting,
streamlining and lubrication played in personal transport. Starship
is the Shell Concept Car's equivalent for freight transport."
Shell provided technical consultation on engine and drivetrain
components, as well as recommendations for lubricant needs for use
in the Starship Project truck. The truck is using Shell's next
generation, low viscosity, fully synthetic heavy duty engine oil.
The use of fully synthetic base oils, plus advanced additive
technology provides protection against wear, deposits and oil
breakdown. The lower viscosity delivers superior fuel economy
compared to a conventional SAE 15W-40. The lubrication technology
shares the same viscosity as Shell Rimula Ultra E+ and is being
tested by OEMs around the world.
"As the leader in heavy duty lubricants we have a responsibility
to the industry beyond simply our products. That's why I'm so
proud of this collaboration with AirFlow Trucking – which provides
a unique opportunity to explore ways to improve fuel economy in
transport application. Moving forward, we need creative
solutions to the world's energy challenge such as Starship that
will benefit our customers, drivers and the wider world for years
to come" says Chris Guerrero, Global
Brand Manager, Heavy Duty Lubricants.
Ahead of its first public display at the Shell Make the Future
event in Sonoma, the companies
have continued to fine tune the truck. In May 2018, Shell and AirFlow Truck Company will
demonstrate the performance of the Starship on a US coast-to-coast
drive: beginning in California and
ending in Florida. The truck will
carry the maximum viable amount of freight within the allowed gross
vehicle weight of 80,000lbs/36,287kgs.
The freight tonne efficiency and fuel economy will be measured
along the way and the result will be shared publicly. Freight tonne
efficiency is the primary indicator that will be measured on the
Starship truck. Shell and Airflow believe this is the most
meaningful measurement of efficiency of freight transportation. It
is defined as the energy required to move freight from point A to
point B. Maximising the amount of load the truck is carrying will
decrease the fuel economy, however it will improve freight tonne
efficiency and reduce weight specific carbon emissions.
The lessons learned from the Starship Project are globally
relevant. The trucking sector worldwide is united in the challenge
to "go further with less"; to reduce fuel consumption while
maximising load; both in pursuit of lower costs and to meet fuel
economy regulations. The truck operates with modern Class
81 engine technology, the demands of which are
replicated worldwide; higher temperatures, mechanical and corrosive
wear, minimising deposit build-up and the need for extended
oil-drain intervals and engine life. A large selection of
innovative technologies to aid (fuel) efficiency are commercially
available in many markets around the world, we have used a range of
these in Starship. These are therefore solutions that truck owners
around the globe can readily implement to realise benefits in their
own vehicles. The Starship project is one step in the journey to
target the world's global energy challenge; a journey that will
benefit the trucking sector directly and the wider environment. To
stay up-to-date on the latest Airflow Starship activities, visit
www.shell.com/starship.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Starship Truck technology
- Starship is known as a Class 8 Truck in the US: this US
specific-classification is determined based on the vehicle's gross
vehicle weight rating (GVWR). The classes range from 1–8 and are
classified by the Department of Transportation's Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA).
- The body of the Starship Project tractor is a bespoke 100%
aerodynamic design made of carbon fibre. This includes the side
skirts, hood, and front end.
- The Starship Project truck is powered by a 6-cylinder engine
with 400 horsepower and 1850-foot pounds of torque/2,508 newton
metres. The standard engine has been calibrated with the
transmission to run at very low speeds and down to 800 rpm.
- Active grille shutters (active based on temperature to maximize
aerodynamics and maximise efficiency) open to enable airflow
through the radiator and into the engine compartment allowing
cooling. When cooling is not needed the shutters are automatically
closed, leaving the air to reroute around the vehicle. The result
is less aerodynamic drag and reduced fuel consumption. Furthermore,
closed shutters in cold-weather reduce warm up time of the
engine.
- The truck will, in the future, feature a hybrid electric axle
system with an electric motor and axle replacing the rear tractor
non-driven axle. This will provide a power boost while climbing
grades, where most of the fuel is consumed, the axle transfers the
energy out of the truck and feeds it into the battery for
acceleration/braking. A downspeed axle configuration using advanced
engine controls and automated manual transmission also provides
improved efficiency as well as good pulling power
- A 5,000-watt solar array on the trailer roof charges and stores
power in a 48- volt battery bank , and is sufficient to power
the normal truck loads such as lights, wipers, blower motors,
gauges, air conditioning and heating, microwaves, and other
electrical components.
Shell's collaborations
- Recognising the need for sustainable, cleaner and more energy
efficient transportation solutions, Shell is collaborating and
co-engineering a number of projects. In 2016, Shell work with
Gordon Murray Design and Geo Technology to co-engineer
the Shell Concept Car – an ultra-efficient city vehicle
that, compared to a typical city car, uses 34% less primary energy
over its entire lifetime.
ABOUT AirFlow Truck Company
AirFlow Truck Company has
built two previous aerodynamic and fuel-efficient Class 8 tractor
trailers, the first in 1983 and the most recent in 2012. The most
recent rig, dubbed the Bullet Truck, ran coast-to-coast hauling
freight at 65,000 pounds (almost 30,000kgs) gross vehicle weight
and averaged a record 13.4 mpg or 5.7 km/l.
ABOUT Shell Lubricants
Shell Lubricants produces and
sells a wide range of lubricants catered to a wide range of
customers in 150 countries – from consumers to business customers.
We produce lubricants used in sectors such as consumer motoring,
heavy duty transport, mining, power generation, general
manufacturing, etc. Our brands include Pennzoil, Quaker State,
Shell Helix, Shell Advance, Shell Rotella and Shell Rimula, Shell
Tellus and Shell Gadus. Our robust supply chain allows us to bring
our products to customers globally. This includes five base oil
plants, 40 lubricants blending (and packaging) plants and 10 grease
production plant across the globe, in 32 countries around the
world.
Shell's strong heritage in technology for lubricants traces back
to more than 70 years. We have over 200 scientists and engineers
that work in specialised technical centres for lubricants in
China, Japan, Germany and the US. We hold over 150 patents
for base oils, lubricants and greases and carry out millions of
trials every year. Our close relationships with OEMs help us to
continue to work on producing high quality lubricants. We also work
with top motorsports teams like Scuderia Ferrari, BMW Motorsport,
Hyundai Motorsport and Ducati Corse to use racing as a test bed to
bring race quality lubricants to customers on the road. We also
offer a wide range of technical services to our customers, namely
Shell LubeMatch, Shell LubeAdvisor and Shell LubeChat. For more
information, logon to www.shell.com.
*Kline & Company, "Global Lubricants Industry November 2016: Market Analysis and
Assessment.
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1 A Class 8 truck is a heavy-duty truck as classified
by the US Department of Transportation's Federal Highway
Administration.
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SOURCE Shell