LISLE, Ill. – Navistar announced today its SuperTruck demonstration vehicle, dubbed CatalIST, improved freight efficiency by 104%.

That’s more than double what the US Department of Energy (DOE), which funded the project, had called for. The control vehicle was a 2009 International ProStar. Navistar says the SuperTruck achieves fuel mileage of 13 mpg and demonstrates 50.3% brake thermal efficiency.

“The CatalIST’s significant improvements in freight efficiency, achieved with the support of DOE’s SuperTruck program, demonstrate tremendous potential for reduction in the trucking industry’s consumption of energy,” said Mark Stasell, vice-president, product development. “In addition, a number of the technology innovations we have achieved through the program are already being implemented in production vehicles today.”

Predictive cruise control is one example of a significant technology developed through the SuperTruck project, the company says. It looks ahead of the vehicle and recognizes the terrain, selecting the most efficient speed and gear for optimal fuel economy.

Through the project, Navistar also: improved integration of its N13 engine; reduced aerodynamic drag by replacing mirrors with cameras; used a new, smaller LED headlamp to reduce lamp size and improve aero; redeveloped the shape with a sloped windshield and wedged cab; used lighter-weight materials; developed a hybrid front suspension and lightweight rear suspension using composite materials; and improved trailer drag coefficient by more than 30%.